Central Snaps SPU Men's Eight-Game Streak as GNAC Play Resumes
January 6, 2005

ELLENSBURG, Wa. (Jan. 6) ­ Kyle Boast poured in 20 first-half points and finished with a career-high 27 and 15 rebounds as Central Washington snapped Seattle Pacific University's eight-game win streak, 90-79, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball game at Nicholson Pavilion Thursday night.

Jason Chivers (Sr., 6-8, Los Angeles), getting 17 of his 19 points after intermission, led the Falcons (2-1, 10-3) in a last-gasp rally in which they trimmed a 22-point lead to nine with under six minutes remaining.

At that stage, the Wildcats' (1-1, 5-6) Robert Hicks hit back-to-back buckets and Boast added a three-pointer to put the outcome out of reach. Hicks and Lance Den Boer each totaled 21 points as Central Washington held a comfortable lead much of the contest.

Dustin Bremerman (So., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) added 15 points and eight rebounds for SPU and Ralph Steele (Sr., 6-2, N. Birmingham, Al.) had 13 off the bench.

Central Washington, which had beaten No. 2-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato last week, earned only its third win in the teams' last 12 meetings. It was the first SPU loss since Nov. 26. All three losses have been on the road. The Falcons began the week ranked No.3 in the West Region of NCAA Division II.

After erupting for 122 points in their win, the Falcons came out flat in the first half. They shot just 38 percent in the first half and managed only 23 points­the fewest since the season-opening loss at Washington while the Wildcats scored in waves. Central quickly jumped on top 8-0 and extended the lead to 22-8 on four straight baskets by Hicks.

Steele brought SPU back with six points during a 9-1 burst. But Boast answered with 11 of his 20 first-half points coming in a 18- run to give Central Washington its biggest lead, 44-23.

The Falcons, who had connected on 12 treys versus Puget Sound, shot just 4-19 outside the arc and did not make their first such field goal until there were 10 minutes left. Central finished with a 42-36 rebounding advantage and made 9-24 treys.

The Falcons visit Saint Martin's Saturday night.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON 90, SEATTLE PACIFIC 79

SEATTLE PACIFIC (10-3, 2-1 GNAC) Chivers,Jason 7-15 5-7 19; Bremerman,Dustin 5-12 5-6 15; Steele,Ralph 5-10 2-2 13; Binetti,Tony 3-8 4-4 10; Matzen,Drew 3-5 0-0 9; Williams,Chad 2-4 0-0 4; Birkle,Matt 2-4 0-0 4; Bushmaker,Mike 1-1 1-4 3; Lee,Jordan 1-4 0-0 2; Knudson,Jeff 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-65 17-23 79.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON (5-6, 1-1 GNAC) Boast,Kyle 10-16 2-4 27; Hicks,Robert 8-12 4-5 21; Den Boer,Lance 7-16 6-6 21; Groth,Derek 4-7 4-4 13; Bannish,Chris 2-7 0-3 5; Craven,Teddy 1-2 0-0 2; Everson,Jerrell 0-5 1-2 1; Breeze,Steve 0-0 0-0 0; Moore,Jason 0-2 0-0 0; Galloway,Jacob 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-68 17-24 90.

Halftime-Central Washington 44, Seattle Pacific 27. 3-point goals-Seattle Pacific 4-19 (Matzen,Drew 3-5; Steele,Ralph 1-3; Binetti,Tony 0-2; Williams,Chad 0-2; Lee,Jordan 0-1; Knudson,Jeff 0-2; Bremerman,Dustin 0-4), Central Washington 9-24 (Boast,Kyle 5-8; Hicks,Robert 1-2; Groth,Derek 1-1; Bannish,Chris 1-4; Den Boer,Lance 1-7; Moore,Jason 0-1; Everson,Jerrell 0-1). Fouled out--Seattle Pacific-None, Central Washington-Galloway,Jacob. Rebounds-Seattle Pacific 36 (Bremerman,Dustin 8), Central Washington 42 (Boast,Kyle 15). Assists-Seattle Pacific 11 (Steele,Ralph 3), Central Washington 16 (Bannish,Chris 6). Total fouls-Seattle Pacific 23, Central Washington 19. A-2110