Jan. 17, 2009

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Center Rafael Moreira hit the go-ahead points with 38.7 seconds left, lifting Seattle Pacific University to an 86-84 victory over Western Washington University in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball game Saturday on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

Guard Ira Graham (Sr., Fontana, CA) scored a game-high 26 points for Western, which slipped to 10-3 overall, 2-1 in the GNAC, and had a four-game winning streak snapped.

It was the first home loss for the Vikings in eight contests this season.

Forward Casey Reed had 21 points for Seattle Pacific, which improved to 10-5 overall, 3-1 in the GNAC. Guard Chris Banchero added 17 points and five assists for the Falcons, who shot 55.7 percent (34-of-61) from the field.

Moreira, who finished with 13 points on 6-of-8 field-goal shooting, banked in an 8-foot jump hook with three seconds left on the shot clock to put the Falcons in front 84-82.

After Western's Steve Alford (Sr., Bakersfield, CA/South) missed from the left baseline, Falcon guard Brandon Larrieu grabbed the rebound and raced upcourt. Larrieu missed a layin, but Adam Wardell hit a wild tip to put Seattle Pacific up by four, 86-82, with 20 seconds left.

Morris Anderson (Jr., Federal Way) made two free throws to cut the margin in half, and after the Falcons' Jeff Downs missed the front end of a 1-and-1, Western had a chance to tie. Following a timeout, Graham split two defenders but missed a runner in the lane, and a tip attempt by forward Calin Schell (Sr., Chelan) came off the front rim.

Anderson had 19 points for the Vikings, who shot just 37.0 percent (27-of-73) from the field, including 29.3 percent (12-of-41) in the second half. Forward Michael Duty (Jr., Seattle/O'Dea) had 16 points, and Schell had 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Western had a 49-33 advantage in rebounds. The Vikings had 25 offensive rebounds, with Schell getting nine of his game-high 13 boards on the offensive glass.

Seattle Pacific, which defeated the Vikings for the seventh consecutive time, jumped to an 18-8 lead 5:27 into the game, but Western used a 10-2 run later in the half to narrow the gap to two, 26-24, with 8:57 left in the period. Neither team led by more than six points after that, and the score was tied 12 times.

Western next is at arch-rival Central Washington on Saturday, Jan. 24 (7 p.m.) for a GNAC counter.

Vikings fall to SPU at home

SOMER BREEZE - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

BELLINGHAM - The Seattle Pacific University men's basketball coach compares his young team to what Western was a couple years ago.

With seven freshmen and two sophomores on their roster, the Falcons have just one senior leader.

"We're a work in progress," Jeff Hironaka said. "When you're young you have ups and downs."

While SPU's youth showed at times, the Falcons (10-5, 3-1) held it together to edge the host Vikings 86-84 on Saturday, Jan. 17, in a Great Northern Athletic Conference matchup. The loss snapped Western's (10-3, 2-1) four-game win streak and ended its perfect 7-0 record at home.

"I just feel bad for our seniors," Western junior forward Michael Duty said. "One of our goals going into this year was to go undefeated at home. It means a lot to the team. We wanted to do the best we could for the (seniors)."

SPU post Rafael Moreira hit a bucket with 38 seconds left to break an 82-all tie, while junior Adam Wardell hit the game-winning put-back with 16 seconds left.

Western's Morris Anderson hit two free throws with nine seconds remaining to get the Vikings within two. Duty grabbed a missed SPU free throw rebound and the Vikings called a timeout with 6 seconds left. Senior Ira Graham took the ball down and missed the final shot attempt.

Even with a young roster, the Falcons are making certain they stay near the top of the GNAC, especially after upsetting Saint Martin's on Jan. 8.

"Tonight, we had energy which carried us through because we made some freshmen and sophomore mistakes down the stretch," Hironaka said. "Those things you can't have. The bottom line is, we competed. If we compete and play hard, hopefully we'll withstand some of our inexperience."

Graham finished with a game-high 26 points while junior Morris Anderson added 19. Senior Calin Schell had a game-high 13 rebounds. Duty came off the bench to score 16 points - 12 in the first half - and went 4 for 4 from the free throw line.

"I came out and tried to do the best I could, but we fell a little short unfortunately," Duty said.

Duty, a Seattle native, is good friends with SPU guard Chris Banchero, who finished with 17 points. The two played for a state championship program at O'Dea High School.

"It's a burner," Duty said. "We're friends off the court, but once that ball goes up for the tip, it's a dog fight."

And that it was.

The Falcons wasted no time to jump ahead of the Vikings - going on a 12-0 run early in the first half. Western dug itself out of a hole to take a 48-47 lead at the half.

The win for SPU comes after the Falcons fell 77-62 at Central on Thursday, Jan. 15.

"You've got to win your home games and you have to at least split on the road if you expect to be in the hunt,"Hironaka said.

The Vikings will look for a rebound win when they travel to rival Central on Saturday, Jan. 24 in a GNAC contest.

"We have to pick our heads up," Duty said. "We have a big game next weekend at their place. We just have to bounce back and learn from the loss."