Central Washington Nips Western Oregon, 69-68

Western Oregon drops to 8-15 on the year and to 3-9 in the GNAC.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

MONMOUTH - Lance Den Boer had 29 points, including 17 in the second half as Central Washington escaped with a 69-68 men’s basketball win over Western Oregon on Saturday night at the Physical Education Building.

The Wildcats won their sixth straight game, but had to hold their collective breath at the end.

The Wolves had the ball with 3.7 seconds left on the inbounds play.

Dominic DeWeese took a trey from the corner that missed, but Travis Kuhn’s tip almost dropped, rolling around the cylinder and then falling out as time expired.

The win improved CWU’s record to 13-10 on the season and to 8-4 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

Western Oregon dropped to 8-15 on the year and to 3-9 in the GNAC.

Den Boer connected on 10 of 16 shots from the field, including five of eight from three-point range. He was the only Wildcat in double figures.

Western Oregon was led by Kuhns and Larry Hall who had 14 each.

Jacob Mitchell added 12, hitting six of seven shots from the field, and DeWeese had 10.

The game was tied seven times in the first half, but WOU went on a 9-0 run right before the end of the first half to lead at intermission, 34-29.

Hall had nine first-half points and Mitchell had eight before the break. Den Boer had 12 for CWU.

The lead changed hands 10 times in the ball game.

CWU had a 15-3 run in the second half and threatened to pull away, but the Wolves answered with three’s by DeWeese and Brad Krivchesky.

After Hall tied the game at 61-61 with 5:50 left, the teams traded buckets down the stretch before the final frantic moments.

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