BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's basketball team returned to the win column with a well-rounded team performance in an 80-68 victory over Simon Fraser University Saturday evening in front of 1,011 fans in Carver Gym.

The Vikings snapped a three-game losing streak ending the first half of the 18-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule with a 3-6 record. WWU out-scored SFU 44-34 in the first half and clinched the 12-point victory holding off the Red Leafs 36-34 in the second half.

WWU committed only seven turnovers in the game and turned SFU's 12 turnovers into 20 points on the way to the victory. The Vikings offense featured four players scoring in double-figures, led by a 19-point, 9-rebound performance from sophomore guard Aidan Rice. 

Sophomore forward Trevor White returned to the rotation after missing six games with an injury (WWU went 1-5 during stretch) and instantly made an impact. The Preseason All-GNAC selection scored 12 points in 24 minutes, including a last-second tip-in to close out the first half giving the Vikings a 44-34 10-point lead.

Freshman guard Dennis Johnson III added 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting and junior guard Nehemiah Pollard contributed 11 points (3 dunks) and six rebounds. Senior forward Garrett Levesque led all players with 11 rebounds.

SFU (5-14, 2-7 GNAC) was led by a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double from Sartaj Bhangu and 17 points from Mikyle Malabuyoc.

The Vikings (9-11, 3-6 GNAC) remain at home next week hosting the Alaska schools to open the second half of the GNAC schedule. WWU takes on Alaska Anchorage on Thursday (1/29) with tip-off set for 7 pm and Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday (1/31) at 5 pm on WECU Court in Carver Gym. The complete 2025-26 WWU men's basketball schedule is available online at WWUVikings.com, complete with links to follow the team, updated statistics and game information.

Aidan Rice scored in double-digits for the fifth consecutive game and 15th time in 20 games this season … Rice is averaging a team-best 18.9 points per game … Nehemiah Pollard scored 11 points and is 13 points shy of 1,000 career points including his two seasons at South Puget Sound Community College … WWU is 7-5 when scoring 80-or-more points … the Vikings shot 48.4-percent for the game (31-for-64), tied for the 6th-best team shooting performance this season.

Six minutes into the first half, the Vikings sprung out to a 17-8 lead thanks to a 15-3 run with five Vikings scoring during the 3 ½ minute span. Aidan Rice (19 points and 9 assists) assisted teammates three times during this run while Bennett Olujic (6 points and 5 assists) contributed the other  assists. The Red Leaf's were not able to close the gap, never coming within five points of the Vikings for the remainder of the game.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Simon Fraser:

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2025-26 season:

Here is a look at the GNAC standings and schedule through play on Saturday to close the first half of the conference slate. Updated conference statistics and postseason information 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 5-7 in Carver Gym in Bellingham.