Men's Basketball | 12/6/2024 5:11:00 PM

Box Score
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Walla Walla Men's Basketball team scored the final six points en route to its first win of the season with a 79-74 victory over Evergreen State in a Cascade Conference game on Friday.

The Wolves improved to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in CCC play.

"Feels good to get in the win column," Walla Walla coach Brandon Broome said. "The guys had a tough week of preparation and came out with the intention of getting the job done."

Senior Almonds Sebirokwa led the team with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Sophomore Thomas Mestrov hit three 3s and had 13 points and nine rebounds. Senior Andrew Vaughan finished with 12 points.

Walla Walla shot well from the field especially in the first half. WWU was 18-of-34 (52.9%) in the first 20 minutes and finished the game with a shooting percentage of 48.5%. The Wolves had 38 points in the paint and battled for every score with 20 second chance points and 20 points off turnovers. 

The visiting team outrebounded the Geoducks 41-31 and held Evergreen State to 4-of-18 (22.2%) from beyond the arc.

"Need to continue improving in our foul and turnover columns, but I wouldn't have a job if we were perfect," Broome said. "Very proud of our effort and teamwork today."

HOW IT HAPPENED

Evergreen State scored the first four points of the game before Sebirokwa took a pass from Vaughan and dunked it home. Dillon Wasser converted a traditional three-point play and gave the Wolves a one point early lead.

WWU trailed by seven with 9:34 to go in the half. Mestrov hit a 3-pointer, Sebirokwa stole the ball and Mestrov hit another from beyond the arc. Soren Dalan scored inside, Sebirokwa hit a pair of free throws and Vaughan converted a three-point play.
 
Dalan gave Walla Walla the lead with a layup and Vaughan extended that lead with a 3. Kekoa Beard hit a pair of layups late in the first half and the Wolves went into the locker room with a seven-point advantage.

JT Fenz hit a layup with 14:28 to go to give WWU its largest lead of the game at 10. The Geoducks did not go away and went on a 9-0 run. Josue Mireles ended a three minute Wolves scoreless drought, but Evergreen State managed to tie the game up at 57 with 10:01 to go.

Both teams had runs late in the contest. The Geoducks pulled out to a three point edge with 8:15 to go. Baskets by Mestrov, Vaughan and Sebirokwa turned the tide in Walla Walla's favor and the Wolves had a five point lead with 4:10 remaining.

Jourdan Joseph hit a free throw for Evergreen State with 48 seconds remaining and the home team had a 74-73 lead. Sebirokwa hit a layup, but was unable to complete the 3-point play. Wasser and Mestrov each went 2-for-2 from the line late to seal the Walla Walla win.

UP NEXT

Walla Walla looks to close out the weekend with a pair of victories when it goes against Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash. at 8 p.m. on Saturday.