Men's Basketball | 12/12/2024 10:33:00 PM

Box Score WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The Walla Walla Men's Basketball team led early in the second half and did not make it easy on No. 15 Lewis-Clark State in a 70-59 Cascade Conference loss at Windemuth Court on Thursday. 

The loss dropped the WWU record to 1-6 overall and 1-3 in CCC play.

Almonds Sebirokwa led the way for the Wolves with 18 points on 9-of-17 shooting. The scoring performance tied a season-high for the senior. Senior Andrew Vaughan added 16 points and sophomore Soren Dalan had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Walla Walla held the Warriors to 35.3% (24-of-68) shooting from the field and had three blocks and three steals. The Wolves shot 25-of-60 (41.7%) for the game and converted the few attempts they had at the free throw line and made 5-of-6.

Alton Hamilton had 20 points to lead the Warriors and had 14 rebounds. MaCarhy Morris added 13 points and Jayceon Smith finished with 12 points and five steals. LC State improved to 8-1 overall and 4-0 in CCC action.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Dalan was a presence inside early and scored the first two baskets for the Wolves. Sebirokwa added a pair of baskets and Vaughan hit a 3-pointer to give Walla Walla an early 13-12 advantage. 

The Wolves went on a nearly four-minute drought before Dalan made a layup. Chike Ezeonu hit a jumper and JT Fentz hit two free throw attempts. Dalan sparked a late first half run with a layup followed by a Sebirokwa basket. Thomas Mestrov hit a 3 and Sebirokwa scored on another layup. Walla Walla trailed by four at halftime.

Much like the first half, Dalan got the scoring started for WWU with a basket. Vaughan went on a personal four point run and Dalan gave the Wolves a lead with a layup. After a Grayson Hunt basket, Sebirokwa scored inside and gave Walla Walla a 40-39 lead with 16:03 to go in the game.

The Warriors went on a 15-1 run that was ended by a pair of baskets by Vaughan. Jalen Dunn hit a 3-pointer and baskets by Vaughan and Sebirokwa cut the LC lead to eight. Vaughan added a made basket from beyond the arc late to make it a seven point game with 23 seconds left, but Warrior free throws ballooned the final margin to double digits.

UP NEXT

Walla Walla will travel to Pocatello, Idaho for an exhibition contest with Idaho State at 7 p.m. on Saturday.