MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon men's basketball team returns home this week after a brief two-game road trip to take on the Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks and Central Washington Wildcats in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action at NPE Gym.

Western Oregon (10-4, 4-4 GNAC) split their previous week of play, losing in overtime, 86-79, to the Western Washington Vikings before bouncing back with a 94-80 win over the Simon Fraser Clan. The Wolves had to overcome a 16-point deficit late in the game against WWU to force overtime, getting a game-tying 3-pointer from Cameron Cranston as time expired in regulation to force the extra period. It was the second straight trip to OT for the Wolves and their third overall on the season where they have gone 0-3, all of which have come in conference play.

Two days later, Western Oregon capitalized on a big second half for a 14-point victory over the Clan to pull even with them in conference standings. Tyreek Price delivered 26 points off the bench, a game-high, on 10-for-13 shooting including 6-for-9 from 3-point range.

Entering the week, the Wolves are averaging 86.6 points per game, the most in the GNAC, as well as allowing just 77.6 points a night. They remain the only team in the conference shooting above 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three.

Dalven Brushier and Darius Lubom stand as two of the top seven scorers in the GNAC, averaging 18.9 and 15.6 points per game, respectively. Lubom also leads the conference with 4.7 assists per game.

Northwest Nazarene (7-6, 4-4 GNAC) enters the week in a three-way tie for fifth place in the GNAC with the Wolves and Simon Fraser. NNU has won three straight games, not having lost since Jan. 7 in a two-point loss to Central Washington.

The Nighthawks are led by the 16.3 points per game of Ezekiel Alley and the 6.9 rebounds per night of Olamilekan Adetunji.

WOU is 20-18 against NNU all-time, winning four of the last five meetings and nine of the last 11 dating back to 2014. NNU's last win in Monmouth was on Dec. 31, 2016, 64-59. WOU is 13-6 at home in the series.

Central Washington (9-7, 2-6 GNAC) has struggled in conference play so far this season. After starting the year 7-1 in non-conference action, the Wildcats have been hobbled by GNAC opponents, losing their first four conference matchups and now losing four of their last six games. Their two wins in conference play so far have been over Northwest Nazarene and Alaska Anchorage. CWU is 1-3 in true road games and 3-3 overall away from home.

Central is averaging 76.4 points per game while allowing 73.1 to opponents. They are shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from 3-point range. Three players average in double-figures led by Kevin Baker's 12.0 per game. Jeryn Lucas adds 11.4 and Tariq Woody with 10.4 per game.

WOU is 18-20 all-time against Central Washington. The Wolves have won seven straight in the series dating back to 2016. They have not lost in Monmouth to the Wildcats since Feb. 25, 2012. WOU is 12-7 at home in the series.

Both games will be the second of doubleheaders played in Monmouth following Western Oregon's women's basketball team hosting the same opponents. The men's game Thursday, Jan. 23, against NNU will tip at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 25, against CWU at 4:15 p.m. PST at NPE Gym. Both games will have live stats and video available here.