The Wildcats (10-4, GNAC 5-2) travel to the frozen north to battle with two GNAC teams from Alaska.

The Wildcats face the Seawolves from Anchorage (9-8, GNAC 5-2) and the Nanooks from Fairbanks (5-10, GNAC 2-5) as part of a three game road trip that starts on Jan. 22 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Fresh off their 74-71 ROOT sports buzzer-beating win over cross-state rival Western Washington University, the Wildcats, in a defensive statement game over the high scoring Canadians from Simon Frasier.
In that game, the Wildcats held SFU under 100 points for only the fifth time this season.

The Wildcats have been led by the defensive rim protector Joseph Stroud.
Stroud, who is currently 7th in the nation in block shots with 2.9 block per game, made his presence felt over the last two games with 38 points on 16 for 22 shooting (73 percent shooting) and nine blocks including a few which went into the crowd versus Simon Fraser.

Stroud knows how important it is for him to be in the game protecting the basket and blocking shots.

“I know that my help defense is important,” junior forward Joseph Stroud said. “It really makes them change their shots and bring excitement to the game.”

The Wildcats are currently tied for third place with Anchorage in the GNAC at 5-2 with a 10-4 record overall. Central’s opponent on Thursday, Jan. 22, the Seawolves.
Central is expecting a tough game defensively from the Seawolves, who have held five of their last seven opponents under 60 points.

“Anchorage is going to play a lot of help defense,” redshirt senior guard Dom Williams said, “And they always execute their game plan well.”
Williams, who averages 18.1 points per game, has had a breakout week with the game winner against rival Western, and 28-point performance versus Simon Fraser.

Williams who has been shooting 44 percent from behind the three point arch has proven that he can get his shot and his team has total faith in him.
“Dom’s a shooter, and we knew that if he kept shooting he was gonna find his rhythm,” junior guard Joey Roppo said.

The Wildcats have held their opponents to 71.5 points per game and 41 percent shooting this season, and while defense has been a point of emphasis, the Wildcats have had trouble rebounding against the opposition.

Currently the Wildcats have a minus three margin in rebounds, but the team knows that rebounding is important.

“Coach has been getting on us to really help on the boards,” Roppo said. “The guards really need to go and help as much as we can.”

When the Wildcats face Alaska Anchorage, the key for the Cats will be trying to shut down the back court of junior guard Brian McGill and Travis Thompson who combine to average 31.2 points per game and 2.64 steals per game.

McGill and Thompson should find it difficult to attack the hoop with Stroud close to the basket.
“When I see them coming to the basket I get excited,” Stroud said. “Because I’m gonna try to send the ball to the stands.”

The second game of the road trip takes the Wildcats to Fairbanks, Alaska.
There they will face the six foot three inch junior guard Ruben Silvas whose 60 percent field goal percentage puts him near the top for field goal percentage compared to others who play his position in the GNAC.

Silvas is also the team’s leader in rebounds, as he has proven with his team leading 5.7 rebounds a game that he is willing to go in to battle to get his hands on the ball.
Central will have their hands full over the next three games as they will truly miss the confines of Nicholson pavilion where they are 7-1, and take their defensive show on the road to extend their two game win streak.