Dec. 19, 2008
Box Score
LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Western Washington University scored just 18 points in the second half as it fell 73-60 to Cal Poly Pomona on Friday at the Doolittle Community Center in the only men's basketball game of the third annual Great Western Shootout.
Western, which fell to 6-2 with its second straight loss, was led by the 17 points of guard Ira Graham (Sr., Fontana, CA). Forward Steve Alford (Sr., Bakersfield/South Bakersfield) came off the bench with 12 points, all in the first half.
Preseason All-America forward Larry Gordon scored a game-high 26 points for CPP, which improved to 4-2, making 8-of-11 field goals, including two 3-pointers, and 8-of-9 free throws. He also had eight rebounds, five steals and three assists.
Western led by one, 47-46, four minutes into the second half before the Broncos went on a 17-3 run over the next nine minutes for their biggest lead of 15 points, 64-49, with 7:03 remaining.
The Vikings, who shot 23.3 percent (7-of-30) from the field in the second period, never got closer than nine after that.
Western forward Calin Schell (Sr., Chelan) had eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
CPP had three players, besides Gordon, score double-digit points. Guard Walter Thompson had 12, forward Austin Swift 11 and guard Dahir Nasser 10.
The Broncos shot 49.1 percent (26-of-53) from the field and converted 17-of-20 (85.0 percent) free throws. Western hit just 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the floor, making only 6-of-22 3-point attempts, and was just 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) at the line.
CPP led 17-7 after the first seven minutes of the first half, but the Vikings had a 28-11 run over the next 9:30 to lead 35-28 with 3:39 left in the period. They were still up by seven, 42-35, with 1:02 left, but a jumper by Swift and a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Gordon cut their lead to two, 42-40, at halftime.
A rare winter storm hit Southern Nevada on Wednesday, dumping as much as seven inches of snow, the most in nearly 30 years. That grounded flights at the Las Vegas airport, and forced closure of many major highways.
Cal State Stanislaus withdrew from the tournament, which was scheduled to begin Thursday, and CPP was not able to get to Las Vegas until Thursday evening. That meant no games for the other tourney participant, Central Washington, which was in town after playing at Dixie State on Monday.
The Vikings next host Multnomah Bible on Saturday, January 3 (3 p.m.), on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium.
