WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The Walla Walla Men's Basketball team snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 94-91 victory over Evergreen State in a back-and-forth Cascade Conference game at Walla Walla Community College on Saturday.

There were 20 lead changes, the score was tied 22 different times and no team was able to take a lead larger than seven.

The win improved the Wolves' record to 3-15 overall and 2-12 in CCC play and completed the season sweep over the Geoducks.

"Been a long time coming," Walla Walla coach Brandon Broome said. "Very proud of the guys for continuing to believe in themselves and pursue their goals. Feels good to be on the winning side of the story."

Thomas Mestrov set a career-high with 28 points and tied a career-record with five 3-pointers. Andrew Vaughan recorded his second career double-double (the first was Dec 4, 2021) with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Soren Dalan had another double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds and Almonds Sebirokwa finished with 11 points.

The Wolves shot 49.2% (31-of-63) from the field and outrebounded the Geoducks 46-31. Walla Walla made nine 3s and were 23-of-38 from the free throw line.

Bradley Graham had 22 points and nine assists for Evergreen State. Zach Jefferson also scored 22 points, Jourdan Joseph had 15 points and Jamoi Davis finished with 13.

The Geoducks recorded 19 assists on 31 field goals made and was 20-of-25 at the free throw line.

The loss dropped Evergreen State's record to 1-14 overall and 1-11 in conference action.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Sebirowka got the scoring started for the Wolves with a jumper. Evergreen State scored the next six points before Dalan got on the board with a basket in the paint. Mestrov hit his first 3-pointer of the game to give Walla Walla an early lead 7-6. Later in the half it was another 3 from Mestrov that pushed the Wolves lead to four, 14-10. The Geoducks went on a 7-2 run capped by a Jefferson 3-pointer to regain the lead.

The game would be tied at 19, 23 and 25. Graham and Nick Gutierrez sandwiched 3s for ESC aro a layup by Beard to give the Geoducks a four-point lead. JT Fenz made a pair of free throws and Dillon Wasser connected from beyond the arc to retake the lead for the Wolves 32-31 with 7:02 left in the first half.

Graham hit a 3-pointer to give Evergreen State its largest lead of the game 41-36 with just over three minutes to go in the half. The Wolves scored 10 of the final 13 points and Mestrov made a fastbreak layup with two seconds left in the half. Walla Walla led 46-44 at the break.

The game went back and forth in the second half as the score was tied nine different times in the first 13 minutes. 

Davis converted an and-1 for ESC to give the Geoducks a 73-69 lead. Mestrov made a 3-pointer and Vaughan converted on two free throws to swap the advantage. Graham hit both of his free throw attempts to give Evergreen State the lead, but 13 seconds later Dalan flipped the advantage again with a layup with 5:50 to go. The Wolves would not give up the lead again.

Vaughan extended the lead with a 3-pointer. After a basket by the Geoducks it was a pair of free throws for Kekoa Beard. Graham made another 3 for Evergreen State to cut the lead to one, but it was Vaughan who took over. The senior converted on a layup and a 3-pointer to push the lead to 86-80 with 2:32 to go and the Wolves held on for the victory.

UP NEXT

The Wolves will return to Windemuth Court on Friday, Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. to host the Lions of Multnomah.