The Wildcats took care of business in their final regular season game of the season this past Saturday, walking out of the Nicholson Pavilion with a 97-81 win over the Western Oregon University Wolves.
Prior to the game, the men’s basketball team honored its three seniors, forward Samaad Hector, and guards Jello Lloyd and Camron McNeil. “Coming into CWU I really didn’t know what to expect,” Lloyd said. “Throughout the year it’s been a lot of ups and downs and the growth I made was outstanding … Being here has helped me with my leadership skills and my coachability.”
Saturday was the first time throughout his entire six-year college career that Hector’s family has been able to see him play. McNeil’s family also flew in from North Carolina to watch him play.
All three seniors scored in double-digits and combined for 41 points, with Hector leading the way logging 18 points and 15 rebounds, his eighth double-double of the season. Lloyd had 12 points and McNeil had 11.
“I think that’s probably the first time all season that all three of us played well in the same game,” Hector said. “We really needed those performances from all three of us.”
Echoing Hector’s sentiment, Lloyd explained that the team came ready to show out. “Our team knew what was at stake, we played hard for 40 minutes and we got the win,” Lloyd said.
McNeil had two back-to-back three-pointers to close the first half, stopping the bleeding of a Western Oregon comeback. McNeil said that once he saw the first one fall, he knew he wanted another look.
“That’s just kind of how I play, you know, just always in constant attack mode,” McNeil said. “Once I see one go through, the floodgates can open for me.”
The Wildcats took full control of the second half following a dunk from Hector that blew the roof off of the Pavilion before going on a 14-6 run.
“I felt a lot of revenge,” Hector said. “The play right before I got dunked on … So to just go and get that dunk [scored] in more of an angry manner was kind of my revenge on Western Oregon.”
The Wildcats shot 58.5% from the floor and had 20 assists, spreading the wealth and using their depth to overcome a top-heavy Western Oregon team.
“It’s definitely important to bring that into the tournament this weekend,” McNeil said about the team’s cohesive offense. “One of the things that separates us from other programs is our depth … We have several guys who have been able to go off and get 20-point games.”
McNeil looked ahead and thinks that the depth the Wildcats have is an advantage for them heading into this weekend’s GNAC tournament that starts tonight, Thursday March 7, where it’s going to be non-stop action.
“It’s gonna be very important for us,” McNeil said. “We have three games three days in a row and you got the other teams that’s not gonna be as in-depth as us and that’s going to allow us to play with more energy and firepower.”
Another benefit that the Wildcats will have this weekend is home-court advantage, as the entire tournament will be played at the Nicholson Pavilion. The Wildcats are 13-1 at home this season, and hope to carry that over into the tournament.
“We’re really hard to beat when we’re on our home court … I know people are going to come show out for us and they’re going to help us bring that energy,” Hector said.
The Wildcats will take on Seattle Pacific University at Nicholson Arena tonight at 7:30 p.m.
