Vikings blast Wolves, 109-72

Men's Basketball | 2/25/2009 9:29:41 PM

Box Score BELLINGHAM, Wash.--No. 5 regionally ranked Western Washington gained revenge and kept their post-season hopes alive at the same time with an easy 109-72 men's basketball win over Western Oregon on Wednesday night at Carver Gym.

The Vikings improved to 18-5 overall and to 10-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Western Oregon falls to 9-16 on the year and to 3-11 in the GNAC.

The victory gained a measure of revenge for WWU, who lost to the Wolves 85-83 in Monmouth on Feb. 14. The win also kept the Vikings just a half-game out of first place in the GNAC, where they came into the night tied with Central Washington for second place and just a sliver behind league leader Seattle Pacific.

After the first three minutes of play, when both teams traded baskets, the hosts would never trail again, leading by as many as 25 points before intermission. WWU led 51-32 at the break, and would go on to increase their lead in the second half. They posted a 41-point lead late in the contest before settling for the 37-point final margin.

WWU's Ira Graham missed only two shots from the field in tallying a game-high 23 points. Steve Alford and David Brittinen added 19 each and Calin Schell was also in double figures with 16 points. Schell also had nine rebounds and Morris Anderson added 10 assists for the winners. The Vikings shot 63 percent from the field, including 9 of 12 from three-point range. They held a stunning 44-13 rebound edge on their visitors.

Travis Kuhns led Western Oregon with 15 points, and Matt Schmidt added 12. This is the only game for the Wolves this week, and they then wrap up the 2008-09 season with road games next Thursday and Saturday at Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage.

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