Western Washington University Athletics

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's basketball team dropped a tightly contested game for the second night in a row, losing 72-67 to No. 23 nationally ranked Lubbock Christian Saturday night to close out the second day of the CWU D2 Tip-Off Classic.

The game between the Vikings and Chaparrals featured four lead changes, with neither team leading by more than seven points in the 40-minute contest. LCU held a seven-point lead at 69-62 with just over a minute remaining, but the Vikings cut the deficit down to two points at 69-67 following a three-point play from Jaxon Dubiel.

Chaps guard Leo Nordberg hit a tough fadeaway jump shot for the final points of his game-high 22-point performance to put his team back ahead by four points and a Rylan Houck free throw iced the five-point victory.

WWU featured four players scoring in double-digits, highlighted by 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting from junior guard Grant Kepley and 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting by Dubiel. Junior forward Trevor White added 14 points and freshman guard Brian Webster contributed 11 points in 17 minutes.

WWU completes play in the D2 Tip-Off Classic Sunday evening (7 pm) facing Chico State (0-2).

The 2026 CWU D2 Tip-Off Classic features six women's teams and six men's teams, with the three-day tournament featuring six games each day inside Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg. Here is a look at the men's tournament schedule and Saturday's results:

Friday, October 30:

11:00 am – #23 Lubbock Christian 78, Montana State Billings 73

3:00 pm – Central Washington 78, Chico State 69

7:00 pm – Cal State San Bernardino 85, Western Washington 82

Saturday, October 31:

11:00 am – Montana State Billings 62, Chico State 56

3:00 pm – Cal State San Bernardino 79, Central Washington 70

7:00 pm – #23 Lubbock Christian 72, Western Washington 67

Sunday, November 1:

11:00 am – Montana State Billings vs. Cal State San Bernardino

3:00 pm – Central Washington vs. #23 Lubbock Christian

7:00 pm – Western Washington vs. Chico State

WWU is back in action Sunday with the final of three games at the CWU D2 Tip-Off Classicin Ellensburg, facing Chico State at 7 pm. Fans can stream the games pay-per-view on the GNAC Network.

The complete 2026-27 season schedule can be viewed at WWUVikings.com and season/single-game tickets can be ordered online at WWUVikings.com/Tickets. The Vikings official home opener is set for Monday, November 9 with a 7 pm game against Douglas College on WECU Court in Carver Gym.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Lubbock Christian:

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2026-27 season:

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2026-27 schedule and results: