LACEY, Wash. – After cutting the deficit down a few minutes into the second half, the Western Oregon University men's basketball team was within striking distance of Saint Martin's. The Saints then answered with a 12-0 run and never looked back in taking the 75-52 Great Northwest Athletic Conference victory Thursday night inside Marcus Pavilion.
Saint Martin's (12-4, 5-2 GNAC) came out strong over the first minute jumping out to a 6-0 lead. After trailing by as many as seven, WOU (3-11, 2-4 GNAC) began to chip away with Tyreek Price sinking a three-pointer and then Cameron Cranston took over with a layup and then a three-pointer to give the Wolves a 13-12 lead.
WOU stretched the lead out to two a few minutes later when Price converted a three-point-play. The Saints answered with a 5-0 run before a jumper by Yosani Clay ended the rally and had the deficit back to one. Saint Martin's used a 6-0 run to pull back ahead by seven. RJ Veliz hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit back to four before the Saints closed the first half on a 16-4 run to hold a 41-25 lead at halftime.
Trailing by 19 a few minutes into the second half, the Wolves came fighting back with a 7-0 run. Price hit a layup and after Clay tallied a three-point-play, Cranston completed the run with a layup at the 14:18 mark to leave Saint Martin's with a 47-35 lead.
Just as quickly as WOU got back into it, the Saints responded and never looked back. Saint Martin's reeled off the next 12 points to take a 59-35 lead. WOU wouldn't be able to cut into the deficit this time with the Saints taking the victory.
Cranston and Clay led the way for the Wolves with each tallying 11 points. Cranston added seven rebounds, four steals and three blocks. Clay posted five rebounds. Price chipped in eight points, Veliz with seven and Daisone Hughes with six. WOU went 17-56 (30.4) from the field, 5-24 (20.8) from three and 13-15 (86.7) at the foul line. The Wolves held advantages on second chance points (5-2), bench points (20-19) and fastbreak points (16-13).
Brett Reed led the Saints with 21 points and seven rebounds. Kyle Greeley and Alex Schumacher added 11 points apiece. Schumacher made it a double-double with 10 rebounds. Saint Martin's went 28-61 (45.9) from the field, 8-22 (36.4) from three and 11-16 (68.8) at the foul line. SMU held the edge on points off turnovers (29-14) and points in the paint (38-20).
The teams will now turn right back around and face each other this Saturday in Monmouth with game time set for 4:15 p.m. inside New PE Gym.
