Boxscore

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Ranked 11th in this week's NABC National Coaches Poll, the Central Washington University men's basketball team defeated Northwest Nazarene 69-61 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference contest at Nicholson Pavilion.

 

The Crusaders (8-11, 4-8 GNAC) were led by Drew Eisinger with 22 points, while Brian Barkdoll grabbed game-high honors on the glass with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

 

The Wildcats (18-2, 11-1 GNAC) Chris Scott scored a career-high 23 points to lead all scorers and both Coby Gibler and Chris Sprinker reached double-figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.  Gibler joined Barkdoll with a double-double, adding 10 rebounds to his stat line.

 

NNU out-rebounded Central Washington 34 to 27, including 14 on the offensive glass, but committed 22 turnovers against just 12 for CWU.

 

Both teams shot identical from the field at 23 for 49 (46.9 percent), but the difference came at the free throw line as the Crusaders were out-scored 19 to 10 from the stripe.  CWU finished 19 of 29 (65.5-percent) and NNU was just 10 of 17 (58.8-percent).

 

The Crusaders will return to Nampa and host Montana State Billings on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.  NNU will play four of their final six games at home, hosting Seattle Pacific one week from tonight.