BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The hottest team in the GNAC remains the Western Washington Vikings following a 90-73 victory over rival Central Washington Thursday evening on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

The Vikings won for the 11th time in the last 12 games entertaining a season-high crowd of 1,422 fans for the 17-point victory over the rivals. WWU started the conference season 0-5, but has surged into a tie for 3rd place in the conference standings at 19-8 overall and 11-6 in GNAC play with the postseason nearing. Aiming to secure the outright GNAC title, first-place CWU dropped to 19-8 overall and 13-4 in league play as the Vikings and Wildcats split on the season each winning on their home court.

WWU led by as many as 19 points midway through the second half before CWU went on a 18-4 run to pull to within five points. The Vikings defense clamped down not allowing the Wildcats to get any closer and pulled away with a 16-4 run to secure the 17-point victory.

Freshman Trevor White scored a career high 27 points on 11-for-16 shooting and sophomore guard Tijan Saine continued his scoring binge with 23 points, 5 assists, 4 steals and 4 rebounds. Redshirt freshman guard Grant Kepley scored 16 points and added 7 rebounds, freshman guard Aidan Rice contributed 10 points and 5 rebounds and junior forward Garrett Levesque neared another double-double with 8 points and 9 rebounds. Senior guard Will Wilson led the team with 6 assists and 5 steals.

The Vikings tallied 13 steals and forced 16 CWU turnovers, with the steals total the most by WWU in a GNAC game this season. Western shot 50.8-percent for the game (33-for-65), was 6-for-14 (.429) from three-point range and was 18-for-21 from the free throw line.

CWU was led by 23 points by Cavin Holden with Bradley Swillie adding 17 points. 

Garrett Levesque recorded a game-high 9 rebounds and has led the Vikings in rebounds in five consecutive games and six of the last seven…Tijan Saine has scored 116 points over his last four games (37, 29, 27, 23)…Trevor White scored a career-high 27 points, bettering his previous best of 21 points vs. Northwest (11/23/24)…the Vikings have scored at least 90 points in three consecutive games and nine times in 27 games this season…after starting the GNAC schedule 0-5, WWU has won 12 of the last 13 games in conference play…WWU recorded a season high in single game attendance with 1422 fans, bettering the previous best of 1104 from the last game vs. Simon Fraser.

The Vikings were in control building a 19-point lead at 68-49 with 11:21 remaining. CWU wouldn't go away going on an 18-4 run, including scoring 10 consecutive points, to whittle the WWU lead to five points at 72-67 with 7:21 left in the game. Western responded on a 10-2 run to extend the lead back to double digits and finished on a 16-4 run for the 17-point victory.

The Vikings (19-8, 11-6 GNAC) close out the 2024-25 regular season Saturday hosting Northwest Nazarene at 7 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. WWU's senior student-athletes Will Wilson and Charlie Dietiker, along with seniors from WWU Cheer, Viking Creatives and the Viking Band, will be honored prior to the game and at halftime. The GNAC will announce the postseason seeding and schedule for the conference championships following the conclusion of all games on Saturday. The complete season schedule, complete with links on how to watch the games, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/MBB.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Central Washington:

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2024-25 season:

WWU and CWU split the season series for the second consecutive season, with each team winning on their home court. Series between the Vikings and Wildcats is tied 4-4 over the last eight games. Thursday's game marked the 269th all-time meeting between WWU and CWU, with the Wildcats leading the series 161-108…WWU is 35-20 vs. CWU since both teams joined the NCAA level in 1998-99.

The Vikings have officially punched their ticket to the postseason as one of the six teams to qualify for the 2025 GNAC Men's Basketball Championships. WWU will compete for the conference title March 6-8 in Lacey with all games hosted by Saint Martin's University inside Marcus Pavilion. More information on the GNAC Championships can be viewed online at GNACSports.com.

Here is a look at the 2024-25 GNAC Men's Basketball standings and overall records through Thursday's action. Updated standings and conference statistics can be viewed online at GNACSports.com. The top six teams in the conference standings at the end of the regular season will qualify for the GNAC Championships held March 6-8 in Lacey.

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2024-25 season following the 17-point victory over CWU:

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, WWU has recorded a 20-win season in eight of the last 13 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 six years (and seven of 11) and won the 2020 GNAC Championships Tournament. WWU is amongst the top 20 winningest Division II programs with its 1,579 all-time victories.