ONTARIO, ORE. - Big Bend Community College (BBCC) men's basketball picked up two important road wins over the weekend to solidify the teams' first place standing in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College's (NWAACC) East Division.

BBCC turned back Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) in a 1-point thriller, 68-67 Friday, and then had its way with Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) Saturday, 89-71.

"We had a great weekend of basketball," coach Mark Poth said. "We came back from a 4-point deficit with less than a minute to go to beat Treasure Valley Friday, then shot the ball extremely well against Blue Mountain Saturday."

BBCC 68

TVCC 67

The game against the Chukars was as close and as exciting as they get as the teams traded buckets throughout the first 20 minutes, and went in to the locker room at the half tied, 33-33.

The second half of play was just as competitive. The Runnin' Vikes fell behind by 4 points late, but was able to put together a couple of stops, and score five points in the waning minute to pull out the win.

"Ryan Page hit a jumper to make it 67-65 TVCC with 50 seconds left in the game," Poth said. "We got a stop and the ball back with 12 seconds on the clock and Brenden Westendorf took the ball the length of the court, scored and got fouled. He then hit the free throw for the win."

BBCC had four players score in double figures in the win. Kamen McCullough led the Runnin' Vikes with 16, Kyle Nield added 14, Westendorf had 12, and 8 rebounds, and Ryan Page finished with 11 points.

The Chukars won the rebound battle, 48-42, but BBCC had the edge at the charity strip, 17-10, and bench points, 14-9.

BBCC 89

BMCC 71

Kamen McCullough knocked down 26 points and Kyle Nield added 25 to lead the Runnin' Vikes to an 18 point win over the Timberwolves Saturday. The game was never in doubt as BBCC jumped on top 46-28 at the half. The second half of play was more competitive than the first as both teams scored 43 points.

The Runnin' Vikes were lights-out shooting 67 percent from the field, 62 percent from behind the arc and 90 percent from the free throw line. BBCC won the rebound battle as well, 35-21. Both teams hit eight shots from 3-point range.

Westendorf added 11 points and 10 rebounds; Brandon Funston scored 8 points, Kevin Walker and Trevor Johnson had 6 points each, Page had 4, Perez, 2, and Cameron Sanchez finished with 1 point.

BBCC is back on the hard wood at home Wednesday when the Runnin' Vikes host the Columbia Basin Community College Hawks at 8 p.m.

"If we win, we will be the Eastern Region champs," Poth said. "We'll also be the No. 1 seed from the east in the NWAACC tournament."