CWU Needs Overtime to Get By Eagles

11/1/2017 1:28:39 AM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Northwest University gave Central Washington all they could handle, but the Wildcats would prevail in overtime, 100-93, in an exhibition contest tonight in Nicholson Pavilion. The Eagles outscored CWU, picked to finish third in the D-II GNAC, 43-39 in the second half to send the game into extra time.
 
Northwest U would not allow the Wildcats a lead larger than 8 points in the first half and with 15:15 left in the period, Daniel Ghebremichael, would score to give NU a 14-12 lead. With CWU leading 27-20 at the 6:33 mark, Ghebremichael would hit a 3-pointer to cut the Wildcats lead to four, 27-23. Central would stretch the lead to 31-23 at the 5:16 mark but a dunk by Kaelan Hicks at 4:49 would make it a 33-27 game. Hicks would hit two free throws with 33 seconds on the clock to make it a 46-42 Central Washington lead at halftime.
 
CWU would take command in the second half and Drake Rademacher coast-to-coast lay-up would give the Wildcats their largest lead at 74-54 at the 8:02 mark. But, NU would not go away easily, and would outscore their hosts 12-0 capped off by a jumper by Alex Smith with 5:20 remaining in the game. CWU would be unable to hold onto a 10 point, 80-70 lead with 2:31 to go as Northwest U would go on a 12-2 run to tie the game, 82-82, after a Tanner Davis basket with 10 seconds to go. CWU’s Rademacher would hit a big three with 6 seconds to go, but NU’s Daniel Ghebremichael would hit an even bigger trey at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
 
The overtime would be a tight one with three ties and with the teams in the 9^th and final tie, at 89-89, with 1:50 on the clock, Central would take the lead for good on four straight free throws after three straight fouls by Ghebremichael including a technical foul. Sage Woodruff would hit a key 3-pointer with 31 seconds to go in the game to give CWU a 96-91 lead and Malik Montoya would seal the deal with two more free throws to make it a 98-91 game with 21 seconds on the clock.


Four players scored in double figures for Northwest U led by Daniel Ghebremichael’s 21 points. Kaelan Hicks and Alex Smith each scored 19 and freshman Tanner Davis dropped in 14 for the Eagles. The 6-1 Hicks also led the team in rebounding with 10 boards with Justice Martion adding 9. NU shot 44% for the game, but managed just 29% in overtime.

 
Central Washington was led by Naim Ladd’s 23 points with Sage Woodruff scoring 18, hitting 4 of 6 from beyond the 3-point line. Malik Montoya and Khalil Shabazz each scored 10 for the Wildcats who shot 49% for the game. CWU out rebounded NU by a slim, 46-43 margin.
 
“Down 20 with 8 minutes to go in the game, we could have easily given in,” said interim head coach, Jeff Drinkwine. “But, I’m proud of the way this group pulled together and battled until the end, almost pulling off the upset. It was a great game and we learned a lot about ourselves tonight. We definitely have a solid foundation to build on."

Next Up: NU hosts a four team tournament this weekend in the Pavilion, The Taylor Cliett Invitational, in honor of Cliett, the former Eagle player who lost his battle with cancer last year.