Daniel Sokolov

Wolves Show Grit in Loss to Central Washington

11/27/2016 1:13:00 AM

Box Score Paul Starkebaum, Sports Information Director.

Ellensburg, Wash. – The Wolves headed into Ellensburg tonight ready to face a tough Central Washington University (4-1) team that already has several key wins on their resume, with their only loss of the season to Washington State University. Instead of rolling over, the Wolves matched the Wildcats in a variety of areas tonight, but the difference would be the hot shooting of CWU from the three-point line. That, combined with the Wildcats going a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line, made a big difference as the Wolves lost to the Wildcats 74-97.

An Alec Calloway jumper by Walla Walla opened the night as the Wolves took an early 2-0 lead. From there, both teams battled back and forth in the early going. A three-pointer by Jawan Stepney gave Central a 9-8 lead on the Wolves and that sparked an 11-0 run. This was the beginning of the gap that Central Washington would maintain throughout the first half. Seemingly, every time Walla Walla would begin to claw back into the game, Central would respond with a three. With a little over three minutes to go in the half, Alec Calloway hit a three, topping off his 16 first half points and putting the Wolves within 13 points at a score of 32-45. The Wildcats would go on a 9-0 run to end the half, including a three by Naim Ladd that would put them back up 20 points. Despite a well-played 20 minutes, the Wolves still found themselves down 32-54, in large part due to the outstanding shooting of CWU.

Central would control the game to open the second half, and maintained their 20+ point lead for much of the early going. Stuart Tonack would be a spark off the bench for the Wolves and put in back to back baskets around the post as the Wolves mounted their final push to get back into the game. A three by Zayne Browning was followed up by another basket from Tonack. Following another three from Zayne, Ethan Osias hit a jumper to get the Wolves within 15 points, and cap off a 17-4 run by the Wolves. Wildcat Terry Dawn responded with an and-one lay-up and thirty seconds later Dom Hunter hit a three that would see the Wolves go back down by 20 points. With just seconds on the clock, Oscar Barragan would score the final bucket of the game as the Wolves closed the gap to 23 in a losing effort to the Wildcats.

Alec Calloway led the Wolves in scoring with 16, to go along with 9 rebounds. Stuart Tonack finished with a career high of 13 points, and Zayne Browing added to the double-digit scorers for the Wolves with 10 points and 3 assists. Dom Hunter, for CW, led all scorers with 22 points, and Sage Woodruff had 8 points to go along with his team high 10 rebounds.

The Wolves have a two week break before they head into their first Cascade Conference action of the season. They open league play at home against Eastern Oregon on December 10.

For the Men's Basketball Schedule CLICK HERE

Follow @theUwolves Wolves on Twitter

Follow theuwolves on Instagram

Like Walla Walla University Wolves on Facebook

Print Friendly Version