OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Jourdan Joseph (Sr., G) scored 14 points, including a free throw that gave The Evergreen State College a 74-73 lead with 48 seconds left, but Walla Walla University scored the game's final six points to defeat the Geoducks 79-74 on Friday, Dec. 6 at the Costantino Recreation Center. It was Evergreen's first home game of the season.

After Joseph hit 1 of 2 free throws to put Evergreen in front, the Wolves answered with a layup by Almonds Sebirokwa with 35 seconds remaining give Walla Walla a 75-74 edge. Sebirokwa was fouled on the play but missed the free throw. Thomas Mestrov of WWU hauled down the rebound and was fouled. Mestrov missed the ensuing free throw and Sebirokwa grabbed the rebound. Evergreen fouled Dillon Wasser with 29 seconds on the clock, and Wasser hit both free throws for a 77-74 lead. 

Bradley Graham (Jr., G) missed a shot for the Geoducks on Evergreen's next possession. Mestrov grabbed the rebound for WWU and clinched the win by hitting a pair of free throws with four seconds left.

The Wolves improved to 1-4 on the season, 1-1 in the Cascade College Conference. Evergreen slipped to 0-4 overall, 0-1 in the CCC.

In addition to scoring 14 points, Joseph provided the Geoducks with four assists, three steals, and three rebounds. Graham added 11 points, four boards, four assists, and two steals. Solomon Campbell (Jr., F) provided Evergreen with 11 points and four rebounds, while hitting 5 of 7 field goals. Garret Long (Jr., G/W) hauled down six rebounds.

Sebirokwa paced the Wolves with 16 points and was 7 for 11 from the field. He also contributed seven boards. Mestrov finished with 13 points and nine rebounds. He was 3 for 7 on 3-point shots. Andrew Vaughn of WWU tallied 12 points and earned five boards. Sebirokwa, Mestrov, and Chike Ezeonu each registered three assists.
 
Evergreen trailed 55-45 with 14:28 on the clock following a layup by JT Fentz. The Geoducks countered with a 9-0 run to pull within 55-44 on a layup by Nathan Behr (Jr., F/W) with 11:48 to play. Behr scored seven points during the run.

Walla Walla added a jumper by Josue Mireles to take a 57-54 lead. Tyler No (So.,G) of Evergreen scored on a layup for the Geoducks with 10:30 left, and Long sank two free throws at the 8:46 mark, as the home team to a 59-57 lead. The Wolves tied the score on a jumper by Ezeonu, but Graham sank a 3-pointer to give Evergreen a 62-59 edge.

The Wolves forced a 64-64 tied on a layup by Steele Twiford with 6:28 to play. Walla Walla's advantage reached 67-64 on a 3-point shot by Mestrov and the Wolves led 71-66 following a layup by Sebirokwa with 4:10 on the clock. Evergreen rallied with a 7-2 run to tie the game at 73-73 on a jumper by Graham with 2:18 left. Campbell blocked a shot by Sebirokwa with 1:14 remaining, but neither team scored again until Joseph's free throw with 48 seconds to go.

In the first half, Evergreen grabbed a 23-16 lead on a layup by No with 9:34 left. The Wolves eventually tied the score at 29-29 on a layup and free throw by Vaughan at the 5:39 mark. Evergreen moved in front 30-29 on a free throw by Jerry Boston Jr. (Sr., G/W), but Walla Walla ended the half with a 15-7 run for a 44-37 halftime edge.

For the game, Walla Walla shot 48.5% from the field (32 of 66), while Evergreen shot 48.3% (28 of 58). The Geoducks were 14 of 23 at the free throw line (60.9%). WWU hit 9 of 12 free throws (75.0%). Walla Walla achieved a 41-31 rebounding margin.

Evergreen will be back in action at the CRC on Saturday (Dec. 7) when the Geoducks will take on Lewis-Clark State College. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST.