BELLINGHAM, Wash. – In a game that featured 18 lead changes and nine tie scores, it was only fitting that the final score was decided on the last possession.

Seattle Pacific reserve forward Grant Coleman hit a three-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining to give the Falcons a one-point lead and a last-chance shot at a game-winner by WWU's sophomore guard Tijan Saine came up just short as SPU defeated WWU 64-63 Saturday night in a thrilling GNAC men's basketball contest in Carver Gym.

Both teams entered the highly-anticipated rivalry game with extended winning steaks, with the Vikings having their season-best seven-game streak come to an end and the Falcons recording their sixth consecutive victory.

WWU held a four-point lead with 1:31 remaining, but the Falcons scored the final five points and made two key defensive stops to pull out the victory to secure the regular-season sweep over the Vikings. Up two points at 63-61 the Vikings looked to add to their lead and were in good position when freshman Trevor White grabbed an offensive rebound off a contested layup by senior guard Will Wilson. White attempted to go for a follow-up shot, but was blocked by Logan Kinloch creating a jump ball situation with the possession arrow in favor of the Falcons.

Trailing by two, the Falcons found an unsung hero when Coleman hit just his 15th three-pointer of the season to give SPU the one-point lead with 4.1 seconds remaining. Saine raced the length of the court looking to repeat his game-winning heroics from the January 16 buzzer-beater win over Saint Martin's, but his layup attempt fell just short.

Wilson led the Vikings (15-8, 7-6 GNAC) with 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting. Saine (16 points) and redshirt freshman guard Grant Kepley (13 points) also scored in double-digits. Junior forward Garrett Levesque led all players with 12 rebounds and junior forward Dajon Lott recorded a career high five blocked shots.

SPU (13-11, 9-4 GNAC) was led by a game-high 22 points by Jaxon Nap and 16 from Mason Landdeck.

The Vikings (15-8, 7-6 GNAC) return to the road next week traveling to play at Western Oregon on Thursday (Feb. 13, 7:30 pm) and Saint Martin's on Saturday in Lacey (Feb. 15, 5:15 pm) The complete season schedule, complete with links on how to watch the games, can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/MBB.

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

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2024-25 season:

SPU swept the regular season series vs. WWU for the first time since the 2018-19 season…SPU defeated WWU 97-86 on January 9 in Seattle, the final loss before the Vikings went on a 7-game winning streak…the Falcons lead the series 5-4 over the last nine meetings and is 92-59 all-time vs. Western in the 151 meetings between the Northwest programs.

Here is a look at the 2024-25 GNAC Men's Basketball standings and overall records through Saturday's action. Updated standings and conference statistics can be viewed online at GNACSports.com. The top six teams in the conference standings at the end of the regular season will qualify for the GNAC Championships held March 6-8 in Lacey:

Here is a game-by-game look at the 2024-25 season following the one-point loss vs. SPU:

One of the premier basketball programs in NCAA Division II, WWU has recorded a 20-win season in eight of the last 13 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 six years (and seven of 11) and won the 2020 GNAC Championships Tournament. WWU is amongst the top 20 winningest Division II programs with its 1,575 all-time victories.