BELLINGHAM, Wash – The Western Washington University men’s basketball team opened its preseason schedule with the annual Blue-White Game on Saturday on WECU Court in Carver Gym.
The Blue team, led by assistant coach Atiavo Jude and Director of Basketball Operations Jonathan Kim, edged the White team 102-96.
The Blue were led by a pair of redshirt junior guards, with Leif Anderson (Bellingham, WA/Sehome) scoring a game-high 27 points on 7-for-12 shooting (6-for-10 3FG) and 25 points from Micah Winn (Los Angeles, CA/Crenshaw/Cerritos College) on 8-for-16 shooting (4-for-6 3FG). Senior co-captain Siaan Rojas (Concord, CA/Santa Rosa JC) was closed to a double-double with 17 points and 9 rebounds.
The White squad was led by 22 points from freshman point guard D’Angelo Minnis (Covington, WA/Kentwood) on 8-for-18 shooting (6-for-11 3FG). Senior center Logan Schilder (Bellingham, WA), who is likely going to utilize a redshirt season the 2018-19 season, recorded an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double. Freshman forward Jalen Green (Renton, WA/Lindbergh) added 21 points on 10-for-18 shooting and grabbed 9 rebounds.
“I was very impressed with our players mindset coming into the game. Usually these games can get sloppy, but today everyone worked at playing as a team,” said head coach Tony Dominguez. “The ball moved well and there was a lot of encouragement towards each other. Of course we had some very good individual performances, but the team chemistry really was the highlight today.”
Following exhibition games vs. the Whatcom Slam (Sat., Oct. 27, 2 pm) and the Seattle Mountaineers (Tue., Oct. 30, 7 pm), the Vikings officially open the season Nov. 9-10 traveling to play a pair of games in the CCAA/GNAC Challenge against Cal State Dominguez Hills and tournament host UC San Diego.
WWU’s first home games on WECU Court in Carver Gym will be Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 when the Vikings host Canadian schools Capilano and Langara College to Bellingham. The complete 2018-19 schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/MBB.
Fans can follow the men’s basketball team online at WWUVikings.com/MBB, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUHoops) and Facebook (@WWUmensbball).