WWU men's basketball game against Central to be shown live on FSN Northwest

One of most intense NCAA Division II men’s basketball rivalries in the country will be televised regionally as Western Washington University has contracted with FSN Northwest for a live telecast of its home game in late February with arch-rival Central Washington University.

The contest has been moved one day from its original schedule date to Sunday, Feb. 28, to accommodate the telecast. Tip-off will be at 7 p.m. on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

The game is traditionally a sellout on both campuses each season.

“This is one of the all-time great basketball rivalries in the northwest and to have it televised live regionally on FSN Northwest is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our athletic program and our University,” said Western director of athletics Lynda Goodrich.

In the first confrontation this season between the two schools, the Vikings prevailed 84-70 on Jan. 23 at Ellensburg.

In last year’s meeting at Bellingham, Western clinched the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship outright with an 85-68 victory. That same season at Ellensburg, the Vikings won 95-75, just the third time in school history that they had won by 20 or more points on the road at CWU.

Western, ranked No.18 nationally in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches/NCAA II Top 25 Poll, is off to a 19-3 start under coach Brad Jackson, who is in his 25th season directing the Vikings, with 464 wins.

Western is 14-7 in the last 21 series meetings with Central, but trails in the series overall, 151-88.

Brad Adam will handle the play-by-play for FSN Northwest, with Francis Williams providing color commentary and Jen Mueller being the sideline reporter.

FSN Northwest also will telecast its post-game show from Carver Gym.