Feb. 28, 2009
Box Score
BILLINGS, Mont. - Freshman guard Cameron Severson (Petersburg, AK) came off the bench to lead a balanced attack with 12 points as Western Washington University defeated Montana State University Billings, 76-68, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball game Saturday at Alterowitz Gymnasium.
Western, ranked No.5 in the NCAA Division II West Region, improved to 19-5 overall and and moved into a tie for first place in the GNAC at 11-3 with Central Washington, just one-half game in front of Seattle Pacific at 11-4.
MSUB fell to 9-16 overall and 4-10 in the GNAC despite a game-high 23 points from forward Derrick Wright. It was the seventh straight loss for the Yellowjackets, who also got 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds from Travis Bunker.
MSUB took a 35-34 lead 90 seconds into the second half, but the Vikings responded with a 14-3 run to take a 46-38 lead on a Morris Anderson (Jr., Federal Way) 3-pointer with 16 minutes left. Western led the rest of the way, being up by as much as 11.
The Yellowjackets pulled to within three, 71-68, with 2:40 to play, but committed two turnovers and missed a layup on their next three possessions, and the Vikings hit five-of-six free throws in the final 37 seconds to put the game away.
Anderson had 11 points, a game-high 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Vikings. Guard Ira Graham (Sr., Fontana, CA) and center Calin Schell (Sr., Chelan) each had 11 points for Western, and forward Michael Duty (Jr., Seattle/O'Dea) added 10.
After falling behind early in the contest, Western took a 15-13 lead on a basket by Steve Alford (Sr., Bakersfield, CA/South) 8:45 into the game and never trailed the rest of the half, holding a 33-31 lead at halftime. Severson had 10 of his points in the opening period while playing just seven minutes.
Western, which edged MSUB, 72-67, on Jan. 8 at Bellingham in the GNAC opener for both schools, has now won nine of the last 10 series meetings.
The Vikings travel to Seattle Pacific for a GNAC counter Thursday (7 p.m.).
