SEATTLE (Jan. 5) - Marques Echols shot a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line, pouring in 23 points as the Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team rallied to defeat Western Washington 77-70 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play Saturday night in Royal Brougham Pavilion.

The Falcons bounced back from Thursday night's loss to CWU, improving to 1-1 in GNAC play and 9-2 overall.

WWU (8-3, 1-1) took control of the game early behind the hot hand of junior guard Ira Graham, who hit five of six shots for 10 points in the first ten minutes of the game.The Vikings held SPU to just 27% shooting for the half and led 34-28 at the break.

SPU clawed back in the second half, taking the lead at 51-50 on a pull-up jumper by Brandon Larrieu with 11:09 left in the game.

The Falcons pulled away with a 6-0 run with 2:12 left in the contest as Echols converted a tough lay-in and then stepped to the line for two free throws when Viking coach Brad Jackson was called for a technical foul less than a minute later.

On the ensuing Falcons possession Jared Moultrie found Rob Will to push the lead to 70-62.

Echols, Larrieu, and Casey Reed combined to hit seven of eight free-throws in the final minute to keep the Vikings at bay.  The Falcons finsihed 33-38 (86%) from the line while Western shot 16-22 (72%).

Brown finished with a game-high 28 points for the Vikings.  Steve Alford added 11 despite being held to just 3-14 shooting.

Will scored 21 points and grabbed 9 boards for SPU while Reed finished with 12 points.  Jojay Jackson added a double-double of 11 points and a game high 12 rebounds

The Falcons continue GNAC play next Thursday on the road against cross-town rival Seattle U.

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