ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Feb. 10) – Tyson Gilbert scored 16 points and fellow senior Jaron Williams had 13 points, but the Alaska Anchorage men's basketball team could not fend off a hot-shooting Central Washington club in the second half Saturday, falling 75-66 at Nicholson Pavilion.

The Seawolves (15-8, 5-7 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) also got 12 points from senior guard Dathan Satchell as they settled for a split of the regular-season series.

The Wildcats (15-7, 8-5) got game highs of 20 points and nine rebounds from forward Samaad Hector, along with 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting (3-3 3FG) and six rebounds from reserve guard Colby Gennett. CWU outshot UAA 52 to 40 percent from the floor and won the battle of the boards 40-24.

"The team battled in a tough environment," said UAA head coach Rusty Osborne. "It was a competitive game between two good teams. We made some defensive mistakes but it was our inability to capitalize on shots around the rim and open three-point looks that ultimately cost us. We are in a tough stretch, but our guys are working hard to come out of it."

After leading throughout most of a 75-61 victory over the Wildcats 30 days ago in Anchorage, the Seawolves found themselves in a back-and-forth rematch that featured 12 lead changes and six ties.

The entire first half was played within a two-possession margin until senior guard Caleb Larsen gave UAA a 36-29 lead on a three-pointer with 1:03 left. Gennett nailed an off-balance trey at the buzzer to slice his team's deficit to 38-35, however, and the hosts made it 44-44 when Hector converted a three-point play early in the second half.

Sophomore guard Hasaan Herrington retied the game 48-48 on two free throws with 14:41 remaining before Anjaylo Lloyd scored 17 seconds later to give Central the lead for good.

The Wildcats continued to stretch their lead until Hector scored on a putback to make it 70-58 with 3:11 left, and the Seawolves could get no closer than seven points in the final minute.

Gilbert shot 4 of 8 from long range and set career and UAA season bests with five steals, while Williams grabbed a team-high five rebounds.

Herrington had eight points (3-4 FG, 2-2 FT) and three rebounds, while Sawyer Storms and Dillon Barrientos dished four assists apiece.

The Seawolves return to the Alaska Airlines Center for a pair of games next week, beginning with a Thursday 5:15 p.m. tip against Simon Fraser. Find tickets and more at GoSeawolves.com.