MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Washington University men's basketball team moved back into the win column in emphatic fashion, recording a wire-to-wire 78-62 road victory over Western Oregon University Saturday afternoon in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action.

The win kept the Vikings improved to 13-9 overall and 5-6 in GNAC play to remain in the postseason hunt aiming to be one of the six teams to qualify for the GNAC Tournament in Ellensburg in March.

WWU started the game scoring the first 13 points and would lead the remainder of the way to complete the season sweep over Western Oregon. The Vikings defense held WOU to 41.4-percent (24-for-58) shooting from the floor and led by as many as 19 in the game. WWU held a 42-36 advantage in rebounding (17-13 offensive) and committed just seven turnovers in the game.

Junior guard and GNAC leading scorer Kai Johnson put up a game-high 23 points on 10-for-21 shooting and neared his first double-double of the season with nine rebounds. Johnson is now just five points away from the 1,000-point mark in his Vikings career. 

Junior forward Nic Welp notched his team-leading fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Redshirt freshman guard Tijan Saine (12 points) and junior guard Will Wilson (10 points) also finished scoring in double-digits. WWU combined to shoot 43.9-percent from the field (29-for-66) and was 7-for-23 from three-point range.

Western Oregon dropped their third consecutive game to fall to 5-14 overall and 2-9 in GNAC play. Cameron Benzel scored a team-high 22 points on 10-for-13 FG and grabbed nine rebounds, while teammate Jason Gallant put up 21 points and dished out five assists for the Wolves.

M🏀 | Does Kai get his own assist?!?! Did he just do that? What a play by the GNAC leading scorer Kai Johnson of @WWUHoops. #SCTop10 @SportsCenter @GNACSports pic.twitter.com/3IpC2k0c0T
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) February 3, 2024
  

The Vikings opened the game scoring the first 13 points and led by as many as 19 points at 40-21 before taking a 42-27 lead into halftime. WWU built the 15-point halftime advantage behind 12 points and seven rebounds from Nic Welp (4-for-6 FG) and 10 points in 18 minutes by Will Wilson. The Vikings defense limited WOU to 35.5-percent shooting (11-for-31) and just 2-for-11 from beyond the arc.

The Vikings (13-9, 5-6 GNAC) return home to Carver Gym next week after completing a four-game GNAC road trip, hosting Seattle Pacific University on Thursday with tip-off at 7 pm on WECU Court. The game will be the second WECU Night of the season with WECU members and up to three guests receiving free admission. A Victor E. Viking Bobblehead will also be given to the first 250 fans in attendance. The complete season schedule, complete with links on how to watch the games, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/MBB.

Junior forward Nic Welp earned the WECU Player of the Game by recording his team-leading fifth double-double of the season, totaling 17 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. Welp was 6-for-9 from the field and hit a pair of three-pointers to score in double-digits for the ninth time this season.

M🏀| WECU Player of the Game

Putting up his 5th double-double of the season and helping the Viks lead cover-to-cover, Nic Welp and his 17-point, 12-rebound, 3-steal double-double is the WECU Player of the Game! pic.twitter.com/VolXLtkpPS
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) February 3, 2024
  

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

WWU swept the season series against the Wolves, winning 82-68 on January 4 in Bellingham and recording the 78-62 win today in Monmouth. The Vikings are 51-25 all-time vs. WOU.

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

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2023-24 season following the 16-point victory over WOU:

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 1,556 all-time victories.