ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Despite a 29-point effort from senior guard Julian Nichols, the third-ranked Western Oregon men's basketball team were slimly outshot in every offensive category in falling to Central Washington University, 81-77, on Thursday evening at Nicholson Pavilion.
 
The loss was the first in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action for the Wolves, who dropped to 9-2 overall and 2-1 in league. Meanwhile, the host Wildcats remained undefeated at home this season and improved to 6-2 overall, 1-2 in GNAC play.
 
Western Oregon, who came in Thursday's game shooting 47.0 percent overall and 38.2 percent from the 3-point line, maintained status quo against the Wildcats in front of New Year's Eve crowd of 529 fans. WOU connected on 45.5 percent overall and 8 of 22 from 3-point range; but CWU was 48.1 percent from the floor, 9 of 21 from the arc and 20 of 24 (83.3 percent) from the foul line. The Wildcats hit 16 of 18 tries from the charity in the second half to keep the Wolves from a late comeback.
 
In a game that had eight ties and 10 lead changes, neither team wanted to seize control in the first half. Central Washington's early 10-5 lead was erased by a 6-0 Wolves run. Successive 3-point makes from sophomore Tanner Omlid swung the lead to WOU at the 7:42 mark. A late lay-in from senior Andy Avgi gave the Wolves enough cushion to lead by one at intermission, 40-39.
 
Western Oregon started the second half on a 14-6 run and took a nine-point lead at the 14:47 mark. CWU responded with an 11-2 run, including three big shots from deep, to wipe away the Wolves advantage. The Wolves took its final lead after a step-back 3-pointer from Nichols, who scored 21 of his points in the second half, with 2:08 to go.
 
The Wolves were unable to get any stops against the Wildcats' offense as they connected on eight free throws on the final four possessions of the game to ice away the victory.
 
Western Oregon won the defensive battle between the two schools by forcing 13 turnovers while committing just eight. However, the Wolves were out rebounded by a 36-27 margin and had four shots swatted away by the Wildcats.

Nichols, Avgi and sophomore Alex Roth accounted for 57 of WOU's 77 points, doing so on 18 of 37 shooting (48.6 percent). Nichols was 9 of 16, had five makes from downtown and hit on 6 of 8 shots from the line while playing 36 minutes. Avgi's 16 points came on 5 of 11 shooting from the floor. Roth was 4 of 4 from the stripe and 4 of 10 overall for 12 points. Devon Alexander was held to five points, but had a game-high eight rebounds.
 
CWU had five players in double figures, led by Naim Ladd with 17 points off the bench. Joey Roppo and Drake Rademacher each added 15 points.
 
The Wolves will look to rebound when they open up play in 2016 on Saturday night at Northwest Nazarene. Tip time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Mountain (6:30 p.m. Pacific) from the Johnson Sports Center in Nampa, Idaho.