ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- The Evergreen State College trailed Central Washington by a slim 39-37 margin at halftime and trailed by just three points five minutes into the second half, but the Wildcats pulled away for a 92-72 win over the Geoducks on Saturday, Dec. 13. It was an exhibition game for Evergreen, which remained 0-4 on the season. The game counted for CWU, which evened its record at 6-6.
Tony Frohlich-Fair (Sr., W) led the Geoducks by earning 21 points, four assists, and three steals. He was 8 for 16 from the field.
Zach Jefferson scored 18 points for Evergreen, while hitting 6 of 8 field goals, including two 3-pointers. Jefferson earned two steals.
Two other Geoducks achieved double figures in scoring.
Gabriel Wigginton (Jr., W) finished with 11 points.
Bradley Graham (Sr., G) contributed 10 points and three assists.
Bradley Swillie topped the Wildcats with 27 points and was 11 for 18 from the field. Jalen Childs added 19 points and seven rebounds. Swillie and Childs each provided the Wildcats with four steals. Garrett Marrs added 16 points, five assists, and three steals. Calvin Sisk provided 13 points, connected on 6 of 7 field goals, and grabbed seven boards. Chae Haynes of CWU led all players with 12 rebounds.
The first half was close for all 20 minutes. Evergreen's largest lead during the half was six points, and Central Washington led by as many as five points.
Evergreen claimed its six-point lead at 16-10 on a layup by Frohlich-Fair with 15:03 left in the half. The basket completed a 9-2 run that erased an 8-7 lead by CWU. The run by the Geoducks also included a 3-pointer by Jefferson.
The Wildcats countered with a 7-0 run to move in front 17-16 on a tip-in by Childs at the 13:40 mark. CWU's run also featured a 3-point basket by Marrs.
A bit later, Evergreen took a 25-22 lead when
Kenzel Massey (So., G) scored on a layup with 8:35 left. The Geoducks owned a 27-25 lead after Graham put through a layup with 6:42 to play. Central Washington tallied the next seven points for a 32-27 advantage on a layup by Haynes. Evergreen cut the margin to 34-33 before CWU claimed a 39-37 halftime lead. Overall, the first half included six ties and 20 lead changes.
The Geoducks tied the score twice early in the second half and grabbed a 43-41 lead with 17:55 to play on a layup by Jefferson assisted by Graham. CWU took a 49-43 lead when Marrs sank a 3-pointer with 15:28 on the clock. Frohlich-Fair answered with a 3-pointer for Evergreen that reduced the lead to 49-46 at 15:08.
Central Washington gradually upped its lead to 55-46 on a layup from Swillie with 13:12 remaining. Evergreen added a traditional three-point play by Frohlich-Fair just nine seconds late to reduce the margin to six points, but the Wildcats responded with an 11-0 run to take control at 66-49 with 10:12 on the clock.
Evergreen shot 42.9% from the field (27 of 63) but hit just 4 of 24 three-pointers (16.7%). The Geoducks were 14 for 16 at the free throw line (87.5%), as Graham and Jefferson each went 4 for 4. The Wildcats were successful on 50.7% of their field goals (34 of 67), while connecting on 10 of 24 shots from 3-point range (41.7%). CWU was 14 for 19 (73.7%) on free throws.
The Geoducks will play at the University of Idaho on Sunday, Dec. 14, in a game that will be an exhibition for Evergreen. Game time in Moscow, Idaho, is scheduled for 2 p.m. PST.
