WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The Walla Walla Men's Basketball team jumped out to a quick 26-point lead and held on to an 85-80 victory against Warner Pacific in a Cascade Conference game at Windemuth Court on Saturday.

The win improved the Wolves' record to 4-16 overall and 3-13 in CCC action.

"Wild game, glad we held on. Coach Potts really has his guys locked in on a mission," Walla Walla coach Brandon Broome said. "They took everything in stride and continued to battle until the end. Fun game to coach, I'm sure it was more fun to play. Never a dull night in the CCC."

Thomas Mestrov led Walla Walla with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Soren Dalan had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Almonds Sebirokwa added 13 points and Andrew Vaughan finished with 12.

The Wolves jumped out to a 32-6 lead and shot 50% (17-of-34) in the first half. Walla Walla held the Knights to 37.9% shooting on the night and outrebounded the visitor 51-33 and created 19 turnovers.

Tre'von Cason led Warner Pacific with 27 points. Jurrien Sparks added 18 points, Terrin Dickey had 11 points and Vincent Warren added 10 in the loss.

Warner Pacific dropped to 10-11 overall and 5-11 in conference play with the loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After Warner Pacific got on the board first with a Cade Baker layup it was Andrew Vaughan with a layup of his own for the Wolves. Soren Dalan scored inside and Thomas Mestrov made two layups to give WWU an early 8-2 lead. Jurrien Sparks got the Knights back on the board with a tip in and then it was all Walla Walla.

Mestrov made a layup and a pair of free throws. Almonds Sebirokwa got behind the defense for a dunk and Dalan made a layup and Thomas Mestrov connected on a jumper as the Wolves went on a 13-0 lead over a 4:48 period to take a 21-4 advantage. Vincent Warren made a layup for Warner Pacific to end the drought, but Walla Walla was not done. JT Fenz made a jump shot, Sebirokwa slammed in a dunk and Mestrov nailed a 3-pointer to push the lead to 22. Vaughan was successful on two free throws and Sebirokwa made a layup to give WWU a 32-6 lead. 

Terrin Dickey made two free throws for the Knights before Sebirokwa slammed in another basket. WPU cut the lead to 20 with a pair of free throws by Tre'von Cason and Cason made it closer with a 3. Warner Pacific went on a run late in the half to make it a 39-25 game before Kekoa Beard and Mestrov made layups and Walla Walla took a 43-28 lead into the locker room.

After a basket by the Knights to start the second half, it was the Wolves who went on a run. Dalan hit a layup, Vaughan made a pair of free throws and Dalan added a free throw of his own. The two teams traded baskets until Mestrov scored on a fast break to give Walla Walla a 53-34 advantage. 

Warner Pacific did not go away quietly as Cason started a run with a pair of free throws. Dickey hit two free throws as well and Cason went on a personal 6-0 run to cut the Wolves' lead to six. Mestrov ended the run with a pair of layups to give WWU a 57-47 lead with 11:22 to go.

The two teams battled back and forth in the final ten minutes. Cason made it a five point game with five straight free throws. Vaughan responded with a successful and-1 to push the lead back to eight. With just over a minute to go the Knights made back-to-back baskets and trailed 80-74. Mestrov made a free throw and Sebirokwa scored inside to make it a nine point gap with just 24 seconds to go and Walla Walla was able to hold on for the victory.

UP NEXT

The Wolves will go on the road for a pair of conference games. First up is Eastern Oregon on Friday, Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. in La Grande, Ore. and then the College of Idaho at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 in Caldwell, Idaho.