Boxscore

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Central Washington overcame a five-point halftime deficit with its best shooting performance of the season to defeat Northwest Nazarene 89-75 and record its sixth win in its last seven games.

Louie Beech, who finished with a game and career-high 29 points, made nine of 12 three-pointers including six straight to begin the game. The last of the six gave NNU a 38-31 lead with 5:41 remaining in the opening period. 

The nine three-pointers ties the NNU single-game record and puts him in the record books, joining Ryan MCarthy (05-06), Josh Cooprider (00-01) and Chad Herron (twice, 95-96 and 94-95).

The NNU lead was five at the break after a buzzer beater trey by Drew Eisinger. Central, however, made eight of its first 10 shots to begin the second stanza to go ahead 61-57.

The Wildcats, who shot 69.2 percent (18-26) in the period, later went on a 10-2 run to go ahead 81-70 with 3:26 left.

NNU responded with five points of their own, but CWU center Chris Sprinker then outscored the Crusaders 8-0 the rest of the way as the Wildcats earned the 14-point victory.

Sprinker, who played just 14 minutes due to foul problems, finished with 14 points, all but two in the second half. The Wildcats also got 17 points each from guards Jon Clift and JC Cook and 13 from forward Riley Sivak.

Clift, who made seven of 11 shots, had 10 in the opening period, while Cook netted 11 of his 17 in the second half.

In addition to Beech's 29, Northwest Nazarene 15 points from Drew Eisinger and 11 from Brian Barkdoll. Both players had eight rebounds as NNU had a 36-33 rebounding edge.

Central, however, shot 59 percent from the floor (36-61) and had only eight turnovers, seven fewer than NNU, which made only 22 of 60 shots (36.7), including nine of 31 in the final 20 minutes.