Feb. 14, 2009

Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Despite a game-high 27 points from guard Ira Graham (Sr., Fontana, CA), nationally ranked Western Washington University saw its six-game winning streak come to a close as the Vikings fell to Western Oregon University, 85-83, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball game Saturday at the Physical Education Building.

Western Washington, ranked No.25 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches/NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll and No.2 in the West Region, fell to 16-4 overall, but stayed in first place in the GNAC at 8-2 as second-place Central Washington blew an 18-point lead and lost 89-80 at Saint Martin's.

Forward Travis Kuhns had 23 points on 7-of-10 field-goal accuracy and seven assists for Western Oregon, which improved to 9-13 overall, 3-8 in the conference. It was just the second triumph in the last 10 games for the Wolves.

The Vikings had a chance to win the game in the dying seconds, but Steve Alford (Sr., Bakersfield, CA) missed a 3-pointer from the corner as time expired.

Western Washington trailed by as much as 11 points in the second half. It rallied midway through the period to briefly take the lead, but was down again by seven, 82-75, with just over three minutes left before six straight points by forward Michael Duty (Jr., Seattle/O'Dea) narrowed the margin to one, 82-81, with 1:35 left.

Kuhns hit two free throws and Graham matched them with a layin, and then with 16 seconds left, Kuhns hit one of two free throws, setting up the Vikings' final opportunity.

Duty had 20 points for Western Washington, going 9-of-14 from the field, and Graham was 10-of-14 as the Vikings shot 55.7 percent (34-of-61) on field goals. But Western Oregon was even better, hitting 59.3 percent (32-of-54), and the Wolves also had a 28-25 edge in rebounds.

The lead changed hands eight times in the first half, but the Vikings went scoreless in the final 2:20 of the period and Western Oregon took a 42-35 halftime lead as Blair Wheadon closed the frame with a 3-pointer.

Wheadon finished with 15 points, 12 of them in the first half. Mike McLaughlin also had 15 points for the Wolves and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

Alford had 12 points for Western Washington and forward Calin Schell (Sr., Chelan) added 10, but guard Morris Anderson (Jr., Federal Way) was hampered by an ankle injury suffered at Saint Martin's on Thursday and had just two points and two assists.

Western Washington next plays three home GNAC contests, beginning with Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday (7 p.m.).