LACEY, Wash. – In the ROOT Sports GNAC Game of the Week, Western Oregon University's nationally-ranked men's basketball team extended its winning streak to 11 games with a 66-56 victory over conference rival Saint Martin's University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) action Wednesday inside Marcus Pavilion.

"We executed well at both ends in the first half," said Head Coach Brady Bergeson. "After halftime, we broke down offensively. It took us a while to overcome our own mistakes and get into a rhythm. Ultimately, we closed the game on the defensive end. Our guys never wavered on that side of the ball."

Western Oregon (21-3, 13-1 GNAC), who clinched the conference's first berth to this year's GNAC Tournament with the win, was led offensively by junior Andy Avgi with a game-high 22 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field, while junior Julian Nichols added 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists for the Wolves. Senior Marwan Sarhan and junior Devon Alexander chipped in with eight points each, while Sarhan and fellow senior Lewis Thomas grabbed a game-high tying eight rebounds each to go along with Nichols' game-high in assists.

Saint Martin's (6-18, 3-11 GNAC) had a pair of players – Victor Ieronymides and Riley Carel – score in double figures with 15 and 14 points, respectively, while Ryan Rogers added eight points for the Saints. Carel and Ieronymides led SMU with eight rebounds each, while Carel also handed out a game-high tying four assists.

Western Oregon used a 15-0 run over a span of six minutes at the beginning of the first half en route to building a 15-2 lead on a jumper by Alexander with 13:34 left in the first half. The Wolves would push their lead to as much as 15 points (36-21) on a lay-in by senior Adam Hastings with 2:40 on the clock before Western Oregon settled for a 38-25 lead at halftime.

The second half would begin with Saint Martin's using a 14-6 run over the opening eight minutes to pull within five points (44-39) on a lay-in by Ieronymides with 12:18 left in the game. Western Oregon would continue to hold the lead with the Saints getting within five points again on a three-pointer by Isaac Bianchini with 6:44 left. Over the final six-plus minutes, WOU used timely shooting and defense along with free throw shooting en route to grabbing a double-digit lead (63-49) on back-to-back free throws by junior Dezmond Dupree-Turner with just over a minute left. Western Oregon would settle for a 10-point victory (66-56), as the Wolves pushed their winning streak to 11 straight conference victories as well.

As a team, Western Oregon combined to shoot 26-for-51 (51.0%) from the field that included 61.5% (16-for-25) in the first half. The Wolves were also a combined 3-for-15 (20.0%) from beyond the three-point line and 11-of-17 (64.7%) at the free throw line. Saint Martin's, on the other hand, was a combined 21-for-58 (36.2%) from the field, 6-of-27 (22.2%) from long range, and 8-of-12 (66.7%) at the charity stripe.

Western Oregon returns to action on Thursday, February 19, against Western Washington University beginning at 7 p.m. inside the New PE Building in Monmouth.