ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Whitman College's Philip Chircu dropped in a buzzer-beating three-pointer to send the Division III Missionaries into overtime against D-II Central Washington University,,y but the host Wildcats were able to scratch out a 98-93 victory in an exhibition contest at Nicholson Pavilion Saturday night.

Central Washington's Joey Roppo sank a pair of free throws to push the Wildcats lead to three, 82-79, with 12 seconds remaining in regulation but Chircu's bomb from just left of the top of the key spoiled CWU's celebration, especially after it faced a 10-point halftime deficit to the visiting Missionaries. A 16-11 advantage in the extra period allowed the Wildcats to escape upset-minded Whitman.

Early action tilted CWU's direction until Christian McDonald poured in a three at the 12:09 mark of the first half to provide Whitman with a 16-15 edge. The lead grew to as many as 13, on three occasions, before the Missionaries settled for their 10-point lead at the break.

The Whitman lead held firm through the first 10 minutes of second-half action but a three from the Wildcats' Naim Ladd inched his team in front. The lead see-sawed over the next five minutes but the Missionaries finally gained control with five to play, stretching an advantage to four at 75-71 with 3:34 to play.

A 7-0 CWU run erased its deficit and eventually set up Roppo at the free-throw line for what he thought would be the clinching foul shots.

The lead changed hands twice in overtime with CWU finally finding some breathing room late, for the first time all evening.

McDonald led a quartet of Whitman players into double figures, finishing with 24 points including three from beyond the arc. He also added seven rebounds and an assist to his night. Hitting double digits as well were Evan Martin with 16, Tim Howell with 11 and Montez White with 10. Chircu's three-pointer was part of an eight-point evening.

Peter French and Austin Butler led Whitman on the glass, each pulling down eight rebounds, to help spur the Missionaries to a 47-42 edge in the contest.

Whitman's regular season opens November 14 at Sherwood Athletics Center in a 7 p.m. non-conference match-up with visiting University of La Verne (Calif.).