LACEY, Wash.— Using a 19-2 run to to break a 16-16 tie, No. 10-ranked Western Oregon University defeated Saint Martins University, 79-71, to capture its seventh straight win on Thursday night.
 
Tanner Omlid, the GNAC Preseason Player of the Year for Western Oregon (14-1, 6-1 GNAC), powered the first-half spree with 17 points before the break. Omlid, who averaged 11.7 points per game entering the game, finished with 19 points while adding six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.
 
The Wolves went up by as many as 17 points (35-18) in the first half before Saint Martin's (10-5, 3-4 GNAC) managed to cut into the deficit before the break as Luke Chavez drained a 3-pointer just under the two-minute mark to pull within single digits (39-30).  
 
Early in the second, SMU's Cameron Chatmin drained back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a 47-41 contest and the Saints had a chance to cut it to five moments later but an Omlid rejection on a would-be fast-break momentarily delayed the comeback.
 
With the Wolves cooling from the field, the Saints continue to chip away late in the second. A Demetrius Tramell layup plus the 'and-1' put WOU back up eight while second-half check-ins Darius Lubom and Dustin Triano provided clutch 3-pointers to hold the Saints at bay.
 
The Saints battled until the very end, however, and managed to close the gap to four points in the waning moments while sending the Wolves to the free throw line.
 
In addition to Omlid's game high, Ali Faruq-Bey (14) and Vince Boumann (10) reached double figures in scoring for WOU.  
 
WOU will continue its road trip with a Jan. 13 contest at Seattle Pacific University. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday.