By: Jamal Smith Sports Editor
After back-to-back losses the Wolves got back on track with a decisive 75-53 victory against Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016.
Western dominated the game with a balanced attack. Five players scored in double figures with redshirt-sophomore Alex Roth (G) leading the way with 16 points.
Senior Julian Nichols (G), coming off a season-high 29 points against Central Washington University, tallied 13 points and had a game-high 8 assists. Senior Jordan Wiley (G) and redshirt-sophomore Tanner Omlid (G/F) each added 12 points, and redshirt-senior Andi Avgi (F) had 11 points.
NNU had a 3 point lead with 3:49 remaining in the first half, but the Wolves would buckle down on defense and hold NNU scoreless for the remainder of the half. Western would score the final 10 points of the first half to take a 34-27 lead into halftime.
The Wolves continued their stellar play in the beginning of the second half with stifling defense and ball control. After NNU cut the Wolves’ double digit lead to just 8 points with 13:32 remaining for the game, Western converted four unanswered buckets from beyond the arch; two from Roth, one from Nichols, and one from Omlid to increase the lead to 59-39.
The 12 point swing proved to be insurmountable for NNU and the Wolves cruised to a hard-fought victory. Western shot .476 from the floor, .462 from beyond the arch and held every statistical advantage over NNU.
With the victory, the Wolves improve their overall record to 10-2 and 4-1 in GNAC conference play.
Western Oregon currently sits in third place in the GNAC behind University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Fairbanks; however, the Wolves host both teams in two weeks.
Up next, the Wolves host Seattle Pacific University (9-3, 2-2 GNAC) on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the New P.E. Building. Fans are asked to wear black to support the team. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office on game day.
