BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's basketball team extended its winning streak to six consecutive games with an 82-68 home-court victory over Western Oregon University Thursday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

 

WWU improved to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in GNAC play with the 14-point victory over the Wolves. One of the highest scoring teams in the nation, WWU crossed the 80-point mark for the 12th time in 13 games.

 

Junior guard Will Wilson led five Vikings scoring in double-digits with 18 points on 5-for-11 shooting, followed by double-double-performances by junior forward Nic Welp (13 points, 10 rebounds) and senior forward Isaac Morrow (11 points, 10 rebounds). Redshirt freshman guard Tijan Saine sparked the Vikings with 13 points on a trio of three-pointers. GNAC leading scorer Kai Johnson was limited to a season low 12 points, but contributed three steals and three rebounds while scoring in double-digits for the 13th time in 13 games this season.

 

Western Oregon dropped its fifth consecutive games to drop to 3-8 overall and 0-3 in conference play. Jason Gallant scored a game-high 20 points on 7-for-22 shooting Peter-Kaci Gwananji grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

 

WWU held a decisive 48-39 advantage in rebounds.
 

 

The Vikings improved to 10-0 on the season when holding a halftime lead, coming out of the break on a 9-0 run to build a 50-35 lead. WOU would not go away, trimming its deficit to three points at 55-52 with 13:48 remaining in the game following a 13-2 run. But the Vikings answered the challenge scoring seven consecutive points to pad the lead back to double-digits at 62-52 and finished strong for the 14-point victory.

 

The Vikings led by as many as 12 points in the first half and took a six-point 41-35 lead into the halftime break. The first 20 minutes featured four lead changes and a pair of tie scores. WWU used a 12-2 run late in the first half on four three-pointers to build the 12-point lead at 36-24, but the Wolves closed the half on an 11-5 spurt to pull to within six points. Will Wilson led the Vikings with 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting and Tijan Saine added 10 points with a trio of three-pointers as the Vikings shot 45.5-percent in the opening half. Kris Cook led WOU with a first-half high 13 points on 4-for-8 shooting.

 

The Vikings (10-3, 2-0 GNAC) remains at home closing out a string of six consecutive home games on Saturday hosting No. 5 nationally-ranked Saint Martin's (12-1, 2-1 GNAC) with tip-off at 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The complete season schedule, complete with links on how to watch the games, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/MBB.

 

WWU improved to 50-25 all-time vs. Western Oregon…WOU had won five of the last six in the series entering the game dating back to the 2019-20 season.

 

Junior forward Nic Welp was selected as the WECU Player of the Game recording his fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Welp was 5-for-9 from the field while tying his single-game career high with three 3-pointers.
 

M🏀 | This one could have gone to a number of players, but a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double from Nic Welp (his fourth double-double of the season) lands the junior the WECU Player of the Game for @WWUHoops. pic.twitter.com/nPso06zvd5

— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) January 5, 2024

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

 

 

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2023-24 season:

 

 

Here is an updated look at the 2023-24 GNAC Men's Basketball standings following Thursday's games:

 

 

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2023-24 season following Thursday's 14-point victory over Western Oregon:

 

 

Parking for all WWU home events in Carver Gym is free and now located in the 19G Lot by the Student Recreation Center. Season ticket parking will be in the 9G lot. A parking map is available at wwuvikings.com.

 

All home games during the 2023-24 season will feature a live (and free) webcast on YouTube via Vikings TV and live statistical updates at wwuvikings.com/MBB_Stats. 

 

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, WWU has recorded a 20-win season in eight of the last 12 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 five years (and seven of 10) and won the 2020 GNAC Championships Tournament. WWU is amongst the top 15 winningest Division II programs with its 1,553 all-time victories.