The Western Washington University men's basketball team battled back from a 12-point second-half deficit to force overtime, but fell short of completing the comeback in an 86-81 loss to in-state rival Central Washington University Saturday night in Nicholson Pavilion.
Playing in their second consecutive overtime game after defeating Northwest Nazarene 96-91 Thursday night, the Vikings set a program record playing in their fifth overtime game this season. The five-point loss marked WWU's eighth loss this season by five-or-fewer points. WWU played four overtime games during the 1971-72 season.
WWU dropped to 14-13 overall and slipped to seventh place in the GNAC standings at 7-10 in league play. The Vikings have one regular-season game remaining next Saturday hosting Simon Fraser in Caver Gym, with the top six teams in the standings advancing to the postseason GNAC Championships held March 2-4 in Bellingham. CWU jumped to sixth in the conference standings at 7-9 in the GNAC and 11-14 overall.
The Vikings trailed by 12 points with 12:03 remaining in the second half, but used a 9-0 run to climb back into the game, eventually pulling even on a BJ Kolly free throw with 16 seconds on the clock. Kolly had a chance to put the Vikings ahead at the free throw line after drawing a foul on the final possession of regulation, but missed the first free throw before tying the game setting up overtime.
Kolly converted a layup on the first possession of overtime to give the Vikings its first lead since the opening basket of the game and D'Angelo Minnis hit a three-pointer at the 2:39 mark in the extra period to give the Vikings an 81-79 lead. CWU held WWU scoreless the remainder of the way, going on a 7-0 run to close out the game for the 86-81 victory.
Sophomore guard Kai Johnson scored a career-high 26 points to lead four Vikings in double-digits, with Kolly adding 16 points and eight rebounds. Minnis contributed 14 points and three assists and Daniel Hornbuckle added 11 points. Sophomore forward Nic Welp recorded a game-high 10 rebounds.
After going 17-for-30 (.567) from three-point range Thursday at NNU, the Vikings had a tough night from beyond the arc going 5-for-27 (.185).
CWU was led by a game-high 27 points from Camron McNeil on 11-for-18 shooting and Matt Poquette added 23 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats. Central shot 50.7-percent for the game (34-for-67) and was 6-for-14 (.429) from three-point range.
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