By: Jamal Smith Sports Editor
The men’s basketball team lost their first exhibition game 76-57 in Corvallis on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, to Oregon State University (OSU).
Senior Devon Alexander (G) led the wolves in scoring with 16 points. Alexander hit a game-best five shots from beyond the arch.
Jefferson High School product Kadeem Strickland (G) had 14 points in his collegiate debut while sophomore Oregon State transfer Alex Roth, had 14 points and five rebounds against his former team.
Oregon State got off to a quick start, scoring the game’s first 14 points, but Western would grind their way back into the game. With 5:27 left in the first half and Western down 29-19, the Wolves hit four unanswered shots from beyond the three-point line to take the lead 30-29.
The Beavers would answer with a run of their own, scoring the final eight points of the half to take the lead 37-30 going into half time.
In the second half, after OSU increased their lead by 14 points, Alexander would keep the Wolves in the game when he hit two consecutive three-pointers, cutting the lead to 59-53.
After it looked as though Western could challenge the Beavers for the upset, the Wolves went cold from the floor. OSU would outscore the Wolves 17-4 in the final minutes sealing the victory.
The Wolves were without last year’s leading scorer and 2014-15 GNAC Player of the Year, senior Andy Agvi (F). Agvi was inactive for the game due to NCAA regulations because he is currently playing on the football team.
Next up the Wolves play Point Loma Nazarene University in the GNAC/PACWEST challenge on Friday, Nov. 13 2015 in Olympia, Washington at 5 p.m.
