MONMOUTH, Ore. — Guard John Allen poured in a season-high 38 points and forward Paul Jones added a career-high 27 as nationally ranked and undefeated Western Washington University defeated Western Oregon University, 91-81, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball contest Thursday, Jan. 17.
The defending NCAA Division II national champion Vikings, ranked No. 3 in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25, improved to 15-0 and sit alone atop the GNAC at 6-0.
The Vikings have won a GNAC-record 21 straight games, and the start and streak are both the second best in WWU history.
WOU fell to 7-7 overall and 2-4 in the GNAC with its fourth straight loss. Kolton Nelson led the Wolves with 21 points and Devon Alexander added 20.
Allen was 15 of 21 from the field, Jones was 12 of 16, as WWU shot 52.1 percent (38 of 73) from the floor. The Vikings also had a 47-26 margin in rebounds, with center Chris Mitchell having 11 boards as well as 11 points.
"It was a good gutty effort," WWU coach Tony Dominguez said in a news release. "John was very calculating, he didn't force anything, all his shots were good, on balance shots. As a team, we took good shots tonight."
The Vikings trailed, 9-6, just over four minutes into the game, but went on a 15-3 run in a four-minute span, with Jones scoring the last six points, to take a 21-12 lead and go in front for good. WWU led by as much as 16 in the opening period and held a 51-37 lead at halftime as Jones threw in a shot from well behind halfcourt at the buzzer.
Allen and Jones were both 8 of 11 from the field in the opening period, helping the Vikings shoot 59.5 percent (22 of 37). WWU also had a 22-8 advantage in rebounds in the first half.
WOU pulled within six twice in the second half, the last time at 71-65 with 6:28 to play, but the Vikings held a double-digit margin throughout the final 2:53.
JONES' SHOT ON YOUTUBE
Paul Jones' long-range shot just before the halftime buzzer in Thursday's game made this brief highlight clip on YouTube:
WESTERN WASHINGTON 91, WESTERN OREGON 81
WESTERN WASHINGTON (15-0, 6-0 GNAC)
Allen,John 38; Jones,Paul 27; Mitchell,Chris 11; Severson,Cameron 6; Turner,Anye 4; Wilkins,Rico 3; Woodworth,Richard 2; Fisher,Damien 0; Bragg,Austin 0. Totals 38-73 9-11 91.
WESTERN OREGON (7-7, 2-4 GNAC)
Nelson,Kolton 21; Alexander,Devon 20; Avgi,Andy 15; Wiley,Jordan 8; Funk,Tyler 7; Webster,Rodney 7; Schriber,Jordan 3; Gehring,James 0; Johnson,Drew 0. Totals 29-63 21-26 81.
Half: WWU 51, WOU 37
3-point goals: Western Washington 6-15 (Allen,John 4), Western Oregon 2-15 (Alexander,Devon 1; Funk,Tyler 1). Fouled out: Western Washington-None, Western Oregon-None. Rebounds: Western Washington 47 (Mitchell,Chris 11), Western Oregon 26 (Alexander,Devon 5; Webster,Rodney 5). Assists: Western Washington 12 (Allen,John 4), Western Oregon 12 (Alexander,Devon 6). Total fouls: Western Washington 18, Western Oregon 12. Technical fouls: Western Washington-None, Western Oregon-None. A-652
