LACEY, Wash. – The Western Oregon University men's basketball team converted key shots and forced several stops down the stretch to pull away for the 70-59 win over Western Washington in the first round of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships on Wednesday.
"Winning in March is tough, but our defense traveled on a tough offensive night. The guys stayed connected all 40 minutes and earned the right to advance. We'll get rested up and start our game prep for Saint Martin's," head coach Wes Pifer said.
It was a tough offensive night for both teams, but WOU (8-17) was able to hit big shots when they needed them and also went 24-27 (88.9) at the foul line. The Wolves forced 18 turnovers and held Western Washington (14-14) to just a 2-21 (9.5) clip from three-point range and 24-66 (36.4) overall from the field. WWU also struggled at the foul line making just 9-21 (42.9).
Balanced scoring throughout the lineup powered the Wolves with Tyreek Price leading four in double-figures with 14 points. Cameron Cranston tallied 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals in 38 minutes. John Morrill-Keeler tallied a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, along with two blocks. Qiant Myers added 10 points, three rebounds and three assists. Daisone Hughes chipped in nine points and four rebounds and Antonio Salinas collected seven points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Overall, WOU went 21-56 (37.5) from the field and 4-17 (23.5) from three. The Wolves held advantages in bench points (22-17) and fastbreak points (18-7).
Trailing 5-4 two minutes in, a pair of free throws by Myers started a 10-0 run. Morrill-Keeler then went for the next six points on a trio of layups, before Myers closed the run he started with a layup off of a steal and assist by Hughes that had WOU looking at a 14-5 lead.
The Vikings fought back to open up a four-point lead before WOU closed the half with a 5-0 run in the final minute. Price hit a transition three and then added a jumper with seven seconds left to give the Wolves a 27-26 halftime lead.
Price continued the run into the second half tallying a three-point-play. WWU made one more push to tie the game at 34 before the Wolves would start to pull away for good. Salinas drilled a three-pointer to ignite a 9-0 run. Hughes added two from the line, then added a jumper before two foul shots by Myers had WOU with the 43-34 lead near the midway point of the half.
The Vikings would get no closer than five points the rest of the game. Following the last run to get the WOU lead to 47-42 with 7:32 to play, Collin Warmouth hit a key three-pointer to stretch the lead back to eight. After WWU answered with a layup, another triple by Price opened up a 7-0 run. Salinas and Cranston added free throws to close the quick run that left WOU with a 13-point lead. WOU would get the lead out to 14 down the stretch before taking the 70-59 victory.
Lucas Holden and D'Angelo Minnis led the Vikings with 13 points apiece. Jalen Green went for a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Kai Johnson also reached double-figures with 10 points.
WOU now advances to the quarterfinal round to face top-seed and host Saint Martin's tomorrow (Thursday) night starting at 7:30 p.m.
