Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. - Taylor Stafford scored a game-high 28 points while Daulton Hommes added 24 points and the visiting Western Washington University men's basketball outlasted Seattle Pacific University for a 96-91 overtime victory on Saturday night in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action at Brougham Pavilion.

The No. 18 Vikings improved to 7-0 overall and upped their conference mark to 2-0. Seattle Pacific dropped to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the GNAC.

The thrilling, back-and-forth contest featured 18 lead changes and 10 ties. The Falcons forced overtime by scoring 5 points over the final 7 seconds of the second half after the Vikings had opened an 80-76 lead with 15 seconds to go and made a free throw to lead 81-79 with 5 seconds left.

Tied 38-38 at the half, neither team led by more than 5 points during the second half. Tied 74-74 with 1:32 to play in the second half, Stafford (Sr., G, Chicago, IL/Evansville) hit three-pointers on two consecutive possessions as part of a stretch during which he scored 11 straight points for WWU to help the Vikings gain an 80-76 lead with 15 seconds left.

Seattle Pacific countered to come within 80-79 on a three-pointer from Will Parker with 7 seconds remaining. Junior guard Brad Wallace (Lacey, WA/Eastern Washington) then made 1 of 2 free throws at the other end for WWU with 5 seconds left on the clock. SPU forward Coleman Wooten rebounded Wallace's second free throw attempt and raced down the court to get off a running shot from just inside the three-point line that caromed off the rim, but a foul was called with .4 of a second on the clock and he made both free throws to bring the score even at 81-81.

The Vikings took control to begin the overtime, scoring the first 5 points as part of a 15-10 overall scoring advantage during the extra period. A three-pointer from Hommes (Fr., F, Lynden, WA/Lynden Christian) opened the scoring in overtime and sophomore center Logan Schilder (Bellingham, WA/Whatcom CC) followed with a layup for an 86-81 advantage.

The Falcons answered and brought the score even at 86-86 before Hommes broke the tie on a short jumper with 1:34 to play, only to have SPU tie the game again at 88-88 on a pair of free throws. WWU took the lead for good when Stafford was fouled and made both free throws with 48 seconds to go. SPU came up empty on its next possession and WWU made 6-of-8 free throws in the final 35 seconds to maintain the lead and secure the win.

"It was a fun game to come out on top," head coach Tony Dominguez said. "SPU is really good - they made us not play our best...it was quite a battle but awesome, awesome win."

Stafford grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds and tied a career high with 8 assists. His 28-point performance came two days after he scored a career-high 30 points in a win at Saint Martin's and 11 of his 28 points were scored over the final 2:35 of regulation. Hommes scored 7 of his 24 points in overtime to help lead the Vikings.

Stafford and Hommes were joined in double figures scoring by Schilder and sophomore guard Trey Drechsel (Woodinville, WA/Cedar Park Christian) with 11 points apiece, while freshman forward Trevor Jasinsky (Camas, WA) added 10 points. Schilder added 4 blocked shots and is averaging 3.1 blocked shots per game for the season.

Betu Olivier-Paul scored 26 points and added 7 assists for the Falcons while Joe Rasmussen contributed 25 points. Parker totaled 13 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals for SPU while Tony Miller (11 points) and Wooten (10 points) also reached double figures.

The Vikings finished 45.2% from the field (33-for-73) and shot 40.7% from long range (11-for-27). WWU made 19-of-26 free throws (73.1%).

The Falcons shot 43.1% from the floor (31-for-72), making 12-of-31 three-pointers (38.7%). SPU went 17-for-24 (70.8%) at the free throw line.

The Vikings return to action December 12 at UC San Diego (7 pm) in a West Region battle before heading to the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic (December 17-19) in Las Vegas, Nevada.