[Box score]
MONMOUTH, Ore. - Blair Wheadon scored 16 points to lead five Wolves in double-figures as the Western Oregon men's basketball team defeated Hawaii Hilo 87-75, in the final game of the WOU/Phoenix Inn D2 Shootout, Saturday, Nov. 21.
The win moves the Wolves' record to 2-0, and Hawaii Hilo drops to 0-2.
Western Oregon was able to overcome a five-point halftime deficit as it outscored UHH 46-29 in the second half, including a 13-4 run to close the game and capture the win. The Wolves shot 60.7-percent in the second half as they hit 17-of-28 shots from the floor, including 5-of-9 from behind the arc. Meanwhile, WOU held Hilo to a 48.1-percent clip from the field and just one three-pointer in the half. Co-tournament Most Valuable Player Rico Myles also stepped up in the second stanza, as he recorded all 12 of his points and six of his eight rebounds.
"We did a much better job defensively in the second half," said Wolves' head coach Craig Stanger. "The game was very fast paced early, but we knew if we could sustain the game, with our depth we would have a chance."
The sophomore guard trio of Wheadon, Marcus Harris and Kyle Long were all on from long range, as each connected on 3-of-5 three-point attempts, and WOU outscored UHH by 15 points from deep.
"Those guys have to hit outside shots for us to be successful," continued Stanger. "We have to establish the ball inside then kick it back out because all of those guys are dead-eye shooters."
The Wolves received contributions from the starters as well as the bench in the win. In addition to Wheadon's 16, three other starters reached double-figures, as Matt Schmidt scored 15, Long 13 and Myles 12. The bench put up 29 points in the contest, led by Harris's 11 and his 3-of-5 shooting from deep, while Tarance Glynn added eight, and Josh Johnson chipped in with six.
Western Oregon came out of the gate strong led by all-tournament selection Kyle Long, as he scored eight of the first 10 points for WOU before Hilo mounted a 15-6 run to take the lead back at 21-16. The teams would battle back-and-forth until the 5:36 mark in the half before the Vulcans posted a 13-4 run to close the period and take the five-point lead to the locker room (46-41).
The Western Oregon men's basketball team will continue its season Wednesday, Nov. 25th, at 7:30 p.m., against Humboldt State.
All-Tournament team
Bennie Murray - NDNU
Justin Smith - Hawaii Hilo
Galen Squires - Saint Martin's
Kyle Long - Western Oregon
co-MVP: Blake Poole - Saint Martin's
co-MVP: Rico Myles - Western Oregon