SEATTLE, Wash. – The Western Washington University men's basketball team was defeated 89-74 by Seattle Pacific University Saturday afternoon inside Royal Brougham Pavilion.

The Vikings held a 39-37 halftime lead, but Seattle Pacific took control in the second half for the 15-point victory in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

After opening the season 2-0 in conference play and 10-3 overall, the Vikings have dropped their last three games to fall to 10-6 overall and 2-3 in GNAC play. SPU won its second consecutive game to improve to 10-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

Western was led by a 15-point, 6-rebound performance by junior guard Will Wilson and 12 points each by guards Kai Johnson and Tijan Saine. Johnson continued his streak of scoring in double-digits in all 16 games this season. Sophomore forward BJ Kolly added 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting.

The Falcons combined to shoot 58.2-percent from the floor (32-for-55) and were 11-for-21 (.524) from three-point range. Trace Evans led SPU with 18 points on 9-for-14 shooting and neared a double-double with a game-high nine rebounds. Owen Moriarty added 17 points and Maui Sze contributed 15 points. Five Falcons scored in double figures.

The Vikings (10-6, 2-3 GNAC) return home to Carver Gym next week hosting a pair of GNAC games against Alaska Anchorage on Thursday (Jan. 18) and Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday (Jan. 20), with both games featuring a 7 pm tip-off on WECU Court. The complete season schedule, complete with links on how to watch the games, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/MBB.

Junior guard Will Wilson was selected as the WECU Player of the Game after leading the Vikings with 15 points and tying for the team lead with six rebounds. Wilson was 4-for-12 from the field (2-for-6 3FG) and 5-for-7 from the free throw line.

Here is a look at the statistical comparison between WWU and Seattle Pacific:

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2023-24 season:

Here is an updated look at the 2023-24 GNAC Men's Basketball standings following a majority of Saturday's games, with Northwest Nazarene and Alaska Anchorage tipping off late on Saturday. Updated standings and conference statistics can be viewed online at GNACSports.com.

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2023-24 season following loss at SPU:

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, WWU has recorded a 20-win season in eight of the last 12 seasons. WWU is a six-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion and has appeared in the NCAA II Elite 8 three times. The Vikings won the 2012 NCAA Division II National Championship and advanced the following season to the NCAA II Final Four. Western has 20-win seasons in three of the last five years (and seven of 10) and won the 2020 GNAC Championships Tournament. WWU is amongst the top 15 winningest Division II programs with its 1,553 all-time victories.