BELMONT, Calif. – Senior forward Andy Avgi scored a game-high 29 points and Julian Nichols posted 16 points with six helpers as No. 10 Western Oregon picked up an 84-75 non-conference win over Holy Names on Saturday night at Gleason Gym.
 
Avgi was 10 of 16 from the floor, including a 3-point make, and 8 of 10 from the line for the night. He added five rebounds, three steals and an assist. Nichols was the consummate playmaker – hitting six shots, pulling down six rebounds and helping out with six assists.
 
Western Oregon (6-0) opened the game on a 10-6 run, with five points coming from Avgi anf five more chipped in by Jordan Wiley. Holy Names (1-6) refused to back down from the nationally ranked Wolves by taking a 13-11 lead seven minutes into the game on a Zachary Rowen layup.
 
J.J. Chirnside put the Wolves back on top with a 3-pointer that began a 24-7 run culminating in an Avgi layin to give WOU a 35-20 lead with two minutes to play before halftime. The Hawks countered with seven straight to end the half, putting the Wolves lead at 35-27 after 20 minutes.
 
In the second half, a pair of HNU free throws trimmed the lead to six. The Wolves responded with a 9-0 run and never looked back. An Avgi steal lead to a bucket from Nichols and Alex Roth earned a 3-point play off a Devon Alexander assist. Alexander hit a jump shot after a Hawks turnover and Roth closed the rally with charity shots.
 
The double-digit lead increased to 18 points, 65-47, at the 7:45 mark with a quick five-point burst thanks to Roth's triple and assist to Avgi for an easy look off the glass. HNU hit a pair of triples in the final minute, but the gap was too big to overcome.
 
Roth closed the night as the third WOU player in double figures with 10 points, including going a perfect 5 of 5 from the stripe. Wiley and Alexander each added eight points, with Alexander pulling down a team-best seven boards.
 
Five Hawks scored in double figures, led by forward Dante Robinson with 14 points.
 
Western Oregon opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 1 on the road at Concordia Portland. Tip time from Cavalier Court is scheduled for 7 p.m.