BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's basketball team plays the first of three preseason exhibition games Wednesday hosting Lincoln University of California and its head coach NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
 
Tip-off for the exhibition game is set for 7 pm with the Carver Gym Box Office open one hour prior at 6 pm for ticket sales.
 
Game Information:

• WWU vs. Lincoln University
• Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2022
• Location: WECU Court in Carver Gym
• Tip-Off: 7 pm
• Tickets: $15 (Reserved), $10 (Adult GA), $5 (Student/Senior/WWU Faculty & Staff)
• Parking: Free with shuttle service from C Lots on South Campus

WWU hosted the Oaklanders in Payton's head coaching debut last season gaining an 83-72 victory in front of a crowd of 535 fans.
 
The Vikings will play three exhibition games over a seven-day stretch, also hosting Canadian schools Douglas College on Saturday (Oct. 29, 7 pm) and Columbia Bible College next Tuesday (Nov. 1, 7 pm).
 
The 2022-23 season officially opens with the GNAC/CCAA Challenge November 11-12 in Burnaby, B.C.. The two-day tournament is hosted by Simon Fraser University, with the Vikings playing Cal Poly Humboldt and Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
WWU is coming off a 14-14 season in 2021-22 and has been picked to finish fourth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The complete 2022-23 WWU men's basketball schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/22-23_MBB.
  The Vikings opened the preseason on Sunday with the annual Blue-White Game, breaking the 15-player active roster into two teams. The blue squad beat the white squad 104-95, led by 28 points from redshirt freshman BJ Kolly, a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double by sophomore Nic Welp and 21 points by freshman guard Tijan Saine. The white squad received a team-high 23 points from senior guard Daniel Hornbuckle and a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double by University of Georgia transfer Jonathan Ned.
  Fans wishing to purchase season tickets for the 2022-23 season can call the WWU Box Office at (360) 650-6103 to reserve their seats for the upcoming season.
  One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, WWU has recorded a 20-win season in eight of the last 11 seasons. WWU is a six-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion and has appeared in the NCAA II Elite 8 three times. The Vikings won the 2012 NCAA Division II National Championship and advanced the following season to the NCAA II Final Four. Western has 20-win seasons in three of the last four years (and seven of nine) and won the 2020 GNAC Championships Tournament. WWU is the 12th winningest Division II program with its 1,528 all-time victories. Head coach Tony Dominguez enters his 10th season and 11th year as the Vikings head coach (28th overall at WWU) and is listed in the top 20 amongst active NCAA Division II head coaches with a .669 winning percentage (182-90).