BELLINGHAM, Wash. – With their backs against the wall, the Western Washington University men's basketball team stepped up in a big way defeating No. 18 nationally ranked Saint Martin's University 90-81 on Senior Night in Carver Gym.

The Vikings kept their postseason hopes alive with the eight-point victory over the Saints improving to 12-14 overall and 6-9 in GNAC play. With three regular-season games remaining, WWU is in 8th place in the GNAC standings at 6-9, just out of one of the six playoff spots for the conference tournament that will be held in Bellingham March 5-7.

WWU snapped a three-game losing streak with a big second half performance, out-scoring SMU 51-38. The game featured 11 lead changes and nine tie scores, with the Vikings overcoming an eight-point deficit with 5:54 remaining in the game to record the second win over a nationally ranked opponent this season.

Trailing 73-65 with just under six minutes remaining, the Vikings went on a 10-2 run to tie the game. Freshman Dennis Johnson III converted a four-point play to key the comeback stretch and sophomore Trevor White hit a three-pointer at the 1:52 mark to give the Vikings the lead for good at 80-78. Western out-scored Saint Martin's 25-8 over the final six minutes to secure the comeback victory.

Johnson led the Vikings with 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting, adding four steals, three assists and three rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. White filled up the stat sheet with 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting, recording his first career double-double with a career-high 10 rebounds. He also contributed career-highs with six assists and four blocked shots.

Garrett Levesque celebrated his Senior Night with 14 points, nine rebounds and four steals (5-for-7 FG) and sophomores Bennett Olujic and Aidan Rice each had 13 points. Senior Dajon Lott Jr. added six points and five rebounds on his Senior Night in 10 minutes of action. WWU shot 47.8-percent for the game (33-for-69) and held a 38-37 edge in rebounding. The Vikings also capitalized from the free throw line going 18-for-20. The Vikings were without the services of second-leading scorer Nehemiah Pollard (16.4 points/game), who was out with an ankle injury sustained Thursday against Western Oregon.

The first-place Saints (19-5, 11-3) were led by 27 points from guard Kaden Hansen, who entered the game leading the GNAC averaging 22.8 points in conference games. Diego Trejo-Delgado added a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double.

The Vikings (12-14, 6-9 GNAC) take to the road for the final three regular-season games of the 2025-26 season, beginning with a single game next week facing Simon Faser on Saturday with tip-off set for 7:30 pm in West Gym on Burnaby Mountain. 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.

The Vikings celebrated Garrett Levesque, Dajon Lott Jr. and Janko Drammeh on Senior Night with the last regular-season home game played in Carver Gym.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and No. 18 Saint Martin's:

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. 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.