SEATTLE – Jeff Downs scored 14 of his 16 points during the decisive first-half stretch Saturday when the Seattle Pacific men took control for a 96-66 rout of Alaska Fairbanks at Brougham Pavilion that vaulted them into first place of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference basketball standings.
The Falcons (17-7) improved to 10-3 in conference play. Western Washington dropped out of first place by virtue of an 88-77 overtime home loss to Alaska Anchorage. The Vikings and Central Washington, which was idle Saturday, are tied for second place with matching 9-3 GNAC ledgers.
Coach Jeff Hironaka downplayed the Falcons first-place position.
“It's all relative because we've played one more game than everybody else. It will be a game at a time down the stretch and whoever can withstand the next two weeks will come out on top.”
SPU is seeking to win the GNAC championship for the third time in four years. The Falcons captured the 2006 title outright and shared the 2007 championship.
Downs (Kirkland, Wash./Bellevue Christian HS) explained that SPU was treating the season's final three weeks as a simulated postseason tournament.
“Going into this week we said it's a five-game playoff. We have to take each game one at a time. Being in first place now doesn't really change our mindset. We just have to take care of our next game and focus on that game only. If we do that, winning the league will take care of itself.”
The Falcons are now 2-0 in their pseudo playoffs, including Thursday's thrilling 68-66 win over Alaska Anchorage. Casey Reed (Canby, Ore.) delivered that victory for SPU on a 35-foot shot that banked in at the buzzer.
The Nanooks scored the game's first four points Saturday, but quickly found themselves behind due to a seven-point SPU run. The Falcons held a slim 12-11 edge before breaking the game open with a 29-5 spurt.
Downs fueled the 10-minute surge with three 3-pointers, two jumpers inside the arc and one free throw. The Falcons capped the spree with 17 unanswered points to gain a 41-16 advantage with 3:55 left in the first half.
“It was fun because everyone was looking for each other,” Downs described. “Guys in the first half found me when I got on a little roll. I hit the first shot and then guys just kept on finding me. I was able to keep hitting some.
“That's one of the best team games we've had. Everyone contributed.”
Five Falcons netted double-figure points led by the 19 of Brandon Larrieu (Puyallup, Wash./Franklin Pierce HS). Chris Banchero (Seattle, Wash./O'Dea HS) added 13 points and eight assists for SPU, which also got 11 points from Reed and 10 points and eight rebounds from Rafael Moreira (Brasilia, Brazil).
Fairbanks dropped to 6-15 overall with a 3-9 conference record. The Nanooks were led by the 20 points of Jon Moe. Emmanuel Jenkins and Colin Matteson tallied 12 points apiece.
SPU was ahead 45-22 at halftime, limiting the Nanooks to 26-percent shooting (8-of-31). Fairbanks never got closer than 16 during the second half and the final 30-point margin was the game's largest differential.
The Falcons reserves outscored their UAF counterparts by a 41-14 margin.
“The bench did a nice job tonight for us,” Hironaka remarked, singling out guard Chauncey Campanaro (Rome, Italy) who had eight points and three assists. The 6-foot-7 red-shirt freshman made all four of his shot attempts.
“Chauncey came in and played well. The last two games he's starting to figure things out a little bit. It's a good time for him to step up, going down the stretch we may need him.”
The Falcons shot 55 percent (38-of-69) from the floor, their 18th time in 24 games above the 50-percent plateau. They lead the GNAC and rank No. 2 nationally, shooting 52.4 percent as a team.
Fairbanks finished the game shooting 33 percent (21-of-63).
The Falcons leave the cozy confines of Brougham Pavilion, where they have a 9-1 record this season, to play a pair of road games next week. They are at Montana State Billings on Wednesday, Feb. 25 and spend Saturday, Feb. 28 at Saint Martin's.
“We've got a tough schedule with two on the road and one at home,” said Hironaka. “We'll see what we can do. We've got a lot to play for and hopefully we will respond.”
The Seattle Pacific men play their final regular-season game at home, on March 5 at 7 p.m. against Western Washington in Brougham Pavilion.
NCAA Men's Basketball
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Brougham Pavilion/Seattle, Wash.
Seattle Pacific 96, Alaska Fairbanks 66
ALASKA FAIRBANKS (6-15, 3-9 GNAC)
Maynard 3-10 0-2 6, C. Matteson 3-8 5-7 12, Jenkins 4-13 4-4 12, Edwin 0-2 2-2 2, Moe 6-19 5-6 20, Jones 4-5 0-0 10, Rische 0-0 2-3 2, Wilson 0-5 0-0 0, E. Matteson 1-1 0-0 2, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-63 18-24 66.
SEATTLE PACIFIC (17-7, 10-3 GNAC)
Reed 3-7 4-5 11, Diederichs 1-2 0-0 2, Moreira 5-9 0-0 10, Banchero 5-9 3-6 13, Larrieu 7-13 4-4 19, Campanaro 4-4 0-0 8, Johnson 2-2 0-0 4, Wardell 3-5 0-0 6, Vranes 2-2 1-1 5, Downs 5-13 3-5 16, Hope 0-1 0-0 0, McHugh 0-0 0-0 0, Anderson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 38-69 15-21 96.
Alaska Fairbanks........22 - 44 -- 66
Seattle Pacific.........45 - 51 -- 96
3-point goals -- UAF 6-18 (C. Matteson 1-1, Jenkins 0-5, Moe 3-9, Jones 2-2, Wilson 0-1), SPU 5-17 (Reed 1-1, Banchero 0-1, Larrieu 1-4, Wardell 0-2, Downs 3-9). Fouled out -- None. Rebounds -- UAF 40 (Maynard 12), SPU 40 (Moreira 8, Downs 7, Reed 6). Assists -- UAF 9 (Jenkins 4), SPU 26 (Banchero 8). Technical fouls -- None. Total fouls -- UAF 19, SPU 19. Att. -- 812.
