The Central men’s basketball team [12-5, GNAC 7-3] returns from a three-game road trip to battle with the Western Oregon University Wolves.

In their previous game vs Northwest Nazarene, the Wildcats clawed back from a six point deficit with 1:24 left only to have the game slip through junior forward Joseph Stroud’s fingers, when a game tying alley-oop careened off his hands to end the game.

Junior guard Joey Roppo knows how important home court advantage will be this game.

“This year it’s been more valuable than before,” Roppo said. “Having the crowd behind you makes you want to play that much harder.”

The Wolves [18-3, GNAC 10-1] come to Ellensburg on an eight game winning streak and with firm control over first place in the GNAC, but that doesn’t intimidate Central.

In the last game versus the Wolves, the Wildcats came ready to send a message that they are a team that will stay with its opponent for the whole game.

If not for a few turnovers, the Wildcats could have walked out of Monmouth, OR with a big GNAC win.

Central should expect a much different feeling as the Wildcats are a different team when they play in the friendly confines of Nicholson Pavilion.

Central is 7-1 at home this season and the students have packed Nicholson Pavilion all year.

The Wildcats currently sit in fourth place in the GNAC, with a chance to make up ground in the standings. To do that, Central will need to keep their GNAC leading 40-percent three-point shooting.

The Wildcats have looked to get the ball in the hands of sophomore guard Marc Rodgers and Senior guard Dom Williams, who have both proven to be unselfish leaders all season long.

Assistant Coach Drew Harris sees the development and maturity in both of the players on the court as the season has gone on.

“As a team we have done so much better in limiting our unforced turn overs,” Harris said “Marc has done a lot to take care of the ball, especially late when teams are denying Dom.”

The emergence of guard Joey Roppo has also helped propel Central forward in the last few weeks; Roppo has demonstrated an ability to score from range and forced opposing teams to have to guard him on the perimeter.

Roppo has been a 63-percent three point shooter the first game against WOU hopes to make a difference this time.

“With teams denying Dom, I’ve had to become more aggressive,” Roppo said. “I have had to find a way to be more involved in the offense to help facilitate myself and others.”

In the end the Wildcats will have to contend with Western Oregon’s junior forward Andy Avgi, who scored 23 points in just 26 minutes in the last meeting against Central. Avgi, who is the reigning GNAC player of the week, is coming off a 33-point double overtime performance over Seattle Pacific in Monmouth, OR.

Assistant Coach Harris is aware of the accolades of Avgi, but isn’t going to let one player dictate the way the Wildcats will play defense, but some adjustments will be made.

“We’ll do something’s to contain Avgi, coach Harris said, “We will continue to play defense the way we have all season because that’s our system.”