The Western Washington men’s basketball team got its revenge Tuesday.
The defending national champion Vikings held off a feisty Seattle Pacific team, winning 62-58 at home to advance to the NCAA Division II elite eight in Louisville, Ky., next week.
Ten days ago, Seattle Pacific beat Western Washington 72-70 on a long 3-pointer in the waning seconds by Jobi Wall in the GNAC tournament final.
There would be no miracle finish this time for the Falcons.
Leading 60-58 with possession, Western Washington turned it over. But Seattle Pacific failed to capitalize, as Rico Wilkins stole a pass for the Vikings.
Richard Woodworth then made two free throws for the final scoring.
Anye Turner had a dunk with 2 minutes to go to put Western Washington on top for good at 58-57.
Cam Severson hit a jumper to make it 60-57 before Jobi Wall made a free throw to pull the Falcons within 60-58.
Western Washington will face Florida Southern at 11:30 a.m. PDT on March 28 in the quarterfinals.
Women’s basketball
Western Washington 75, Simon Fraser 58: Corinn Waltrip scored a game-high 29 points to lift the Vikings to a West Regional final victory in Bellingham.
Waltrip, the tournament’s Most’ Outstanding Player, was 10-of-15 from the field, including 5-of-9 on 3-pointers.
Western Washington (28-3) will face Nova Southeastern in a national quarterfinal March 26 in San Antonio, Texas.
Simon Fraser (25-6) had its season come to an end.
Baseball
Gonzaga 10, Washington State 8: Warden graduate Arturo Reyes pitched two innings, allowing a run but still picked up the save for the visiting Bulldogs (12-6-1).
Kennewick grad Trek Stemp drew a walk as a pinch hitter late in the game for the Cougars (11-8).
Central Washington 10, Whitworth 8: Othello graduate Marc Garza was 2-for-5 with a run scored as the Wildcats picked up a nonconference victory in Spokane.
Kyle Sani, a Southridge High graduate, was 0-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored in the victory, while high school teammate Tyler Roberts allowed one hit in 2⁄3 of an inning. Richland High graduate Stinson Ott gave up just one hit in two shutout innings of work for Central as well.
