ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Trailing by one with only 20 second left, the Saints were in need of a clutch shot to pull off the double-digit comeback against Central Washington.
CJ Jennings used a
Marky Adams' high screen to get into the paint, and lifted for a 6-foot floater. The shot hit nothing but net and the Saints knocked off the Wildcats 79-to-76 on Saturday night.
Saint Martin's led the game early on 17-12 in the first half, looking strong offensively. However, the Wildcats found their offensive rhythm and held a lead until the final minutes of the game. SMU outscored the Wildcats 50-to-39 in the second half with five different Saints scoring in double digits. Jennings led all Saints with 18 points, adding four rebounds and four assists. Adams hit his sixth double-double of the season, recording 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Saint Martin's went basket for basket with Central Washington early on to start the first half, with a tied score at 7-7 five minutes in. Baskets from
John Moore, and
Alex Schumacher, and Adams put the Saints in the lead 17-12 with 12:22 left on the clock. CWU's offense went hot and rattled off 15 straight points to put them up by 10. The Saints began to cut some off of the lead, with the score ending 37-29 at the break.
Coming out of the half,
Demonte Malloy began a Saint Martin's 11-point run to put them in the lead 40-37 three minutes in. After a Central Washington 3-pointer tied it up at 40-40, both teams traded points for the next 12 minutes with the Wildcats holding a slight lead.
SMU free throw shots eventually tied the score up at 67-67. A clutch 3-pointer from Jennings, and a layup from
Logan Rooney kept the score tied at 72-72 under three minutes left to play. After a Wildcat jumper on the following possession, Adams put the Saints back the lead. The big man drew a foul and hit one free throw, then after a Saints' defensive stand, Adams connected on a shot in the paint to put SMU up by one with just 46 seconds left on the clock.
Central Washington responded with a basket to regain the 76-75 led, setting Jennings up for the game-winner. With seven seconds left, the Wildcats were unable to run a play to win the game, turning over the ball, which led to Saints' free throws. Jennings calmly iced the game at the line with a pair of free throws, as Saint Martin's sweep their opening week of GNAC action.
John Moore and
Logan Rooney ended the night with 13 points each, and combined for 9-for-13 shooting.
Alex Schumacher had 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Malloy totaled 12 points and three rebounds.
Saint Martin's shot efficiently from the field, going 31-for-62, along with 11-for-27 (40.7) beyond the arc, and 6-for-8 at the free throw line. The Saints collected 29 rebounds, with 14 assists on 13 turnovers, along with four steals.
Saint Martin's heads to Honolulu, Hawaii next week for the Division II Power Invitational hosted by Hawaii Hilo. SMU starts the tournament off competing against Colorado School of Mines on Thursday, December 19 at 5:00 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at smusaints.com.
