MONMOUTH, Ore. – Redshirt freshman BJ Kolly put back a go-ahead basket with just over 10 seconds remaining to help lift the Western Washington University men's basketball team to a 95-93 overtime victory over Western Oregon University Thursday evening in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.

WWU improved to 9-3 overall and 2-0 in GNAC play with the overtime victory to snap a four-game losing streak to the Wolves and record its first road win at WOU since 2017. The Vikings also improved to 2-1 in overtime games this season and 7-1 against West Region opponents. The Wolves dropped their fourth consecutive game to fall to 4-6 overall and 1-2 in conference play.

Sophomore forward Nic Welp led the Vikings with a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double in 27 minutes in a reserve role, connecting on 7-of-10 shots from the Field.

WWU's high-scoring offense featured six players in double-digits, with Kai Johnson, D'Angelo Minnis and Lucas Holden all scoring 14 points. The Vikings combined to shoot .493 from the field (33-for-67) and were 12-for-32 (.375) from three-point range.

The Vikings trailed by as many as nine points midway through the first half, but rallied to finish the half to take a 42-41 halftime lead. The two teams fought through four lead changes and three tie scores in the second half before pushing the game to overtime. 

WOU used a 10-1 run to take a one-point 85-84 lead with just over two minutes remaining in regulation, but Minnis hit three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt with 1:38 remaining to give the Vikings a two-point lead. The Wolves tied the game on a layup by Jahville Collins and a last-second three-point attempt by Minnis rimmed out to force overtime.

Kolly scored the first and last basket of the five-minute overtime period to cap his 12-point, 7-rebound, 5-block performance.

Cameron Cranston led all players with 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting, followed by 19 points each from Collins and Cameron Benzel. WOU shot .560 from the field (42-for-75) and out-rebounded WWU 43-35, but were held to 3-for-12 from three-point range and went just 6-for-17 from the free throw line.

The Vikings (9-3, 2-0 GNAC) return to action in GNAC play continuing North to play at Saint Martin's University in Lacey with tip-off scheduled for 5:15 pm in Marcus Pavilion. The complete 2022-23 WWU men's basketball schedule with links to live coverage can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/MBB.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Western Oregon:

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2022-23 season:

WWU snapped a four-game losing streak against WOU and won in Monmouth for the first time since 2017 snapping a four-game stretch of losses in the New PE Building…Vikings improved to 49-22 in the all-time series.

Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings, complete with Thursday's results from around the conference:

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2022-23 season following the 95-93 overtime victory over Western Oregon:

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 1,537 all-time victories. Head coach Tony Dominguez is in 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 .673 winning percentage (191-93).