COLLEGE PLACE, WASH. - Walla Walla continued their conference season, welcoming the Lions of Multnomah University (MU) in the last game of 2021. Zayne Browning shined for the Wolves, scoring 22 points and grabbing 16 rebounds for his first double-double of the season to help the Wolves pick up their first conference win. 

"We felt it was important to have a strong showing coming out of the break to start the second half of the season," said head coach Brandon Broome. "Our guys wanted to show they could compete with the top teams in our conference and we got a big win at home. I am very proud of their growth."

THE BASICS: 
Final:  Walla Walla 73, MU 59
Records:  Walla Walla (2-11, 1-5 CCC), MU (8-6, 4-2 CCC)
  
 GAME NOTES:

• Both teams played neck-and-neck for most of the first half, highlighted by scrappy defense, as the Wolves held the Lions to their lowest first-half score of the season, taking a 24-21 lead after the first half. 
• After the Lions cut the Wolves lead to 26-25, the Wolves responded with their best run of the game, as Artur Paraizo capped off a 12-2 run with a triple, giving the Wolves their largest lead of the game at 38-27. The Lions battled back the next five-plus minutes, cutting the Wolves lead to 44-40 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
• The Wolves scored on their next seven possessions, holding onto a 60-51 lead with five-plus minutes left. The Lions cut the deficit to 62-54, but the Wolves continued to answer, eventually building their lead back to double-digits and securing the victory. 
• The Wolves

• Both teams shot under 30-percent in the first half, but the Wolves turned it around in the second half, shooting 64-percent while holding the Lions to 34-percent. For the game, the Wolves held the Lions to just under 30-percent, their lowest shooting percentage of the season.
• The Lions, who average the most points scored in the CCC (94), were held to a season-low 59 points.
• The four made three-pointers (4-for-30) by the Lions are their fewest made on the season.
• The 55 rebounds by the Wolves are a season-high and CCC school record.

 PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS:

•  Zayne Browning scored a game-high 22 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Wolves, while KiAndre Gaddy recorded his 11th straight double-digit scoring game with 17 points.
• The Lions were led by the post duo of Tyrese Taylor (15 points and 10 rebounds) and Terin Johnson(15 points), and Zach Richardson (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals).

NEXT GAME:
Walla Walla will host Warner Pacific University (WPU) on Tuesday, January 4 at 5 p.m. after the game was rescheduled from January 1 due to weather concerns. 

Lives stats/video can be found HERE