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GCU THANKSGIVING CLASSIC
Grand Canyon University Arena • Phoenix, Ariz.
• LiveStats for both games:  www.sidearmstats.com/gcu/mbball/index.htm

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25 --
(#22) Seattle Pacific at Grand Canyon, 6:15 p.m. PST (7:15 pm MST)
• Webcast for Friday's game only:  www.b2livetv.com/partner_members.asp?id=78

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26 --
(#22) Seattle Pacific vs. Academy of Art, 1:30 p.m. PST (2:30 p.m. MST)

The undefeated Seattle Pacific men's basketball team (4-0) embarks on a trip to Phoenix, Ariz. this week to play two games at the GCU Thanksgiving Classic. The 22nd-ranked Falcons clash with host Grand Canyon (1-1) in the first round on Friday, Nov. 25. Tip-off is 6:15 p.m. Pacific Time (7:15 p.m. Mountain) at Grand Canyon University Arena where SPU meets Academy of Art (0-4) on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 1:30 p.m. PST (2:30 p.m. MST). The Falcons won the only previous meeting with San Francisco-based AAU, but trails 11-7 in the all-time series with Grand Canyon. Seattle Pacific returns home next week to open conference play against Simon Fraser (Dec. 1) and Western Washington (Dec. 3). Both games are slated for 7 p.m. at Brougham Pavilion.

Recent Recap
The SPU men swept a pair of games last weekend at their own Sodexo GNAC/PacWest Challenge. Jobi Wall and David Downs combined for 43 points Friday in a 70-52 victory over Hawaii Pacific. Wall scored 23 points on 8-for-9 shooting that included 6-of-7 accuracy on 3-pointers. On Saturday, Tournament Most Valuable Player Downs led all scorers with 24 points to lead a 76-65 win over No. 3 BYU-Hawaii. SPU led 36-34 at halftime before a 13-4 surge put the Seasiders ahead 47-40. The Falcons answered with a 16-0 run, sparked by six points from Andy Poling, to take the lead for good.

Notable
Sophomore David Downs didn't have a 20-point game until the final two games last season. He is currently averaging 19.5 points with 20-point performances in his last three outings ... Junior Andy Poling is a Sporting News honorable mention preseason All-American ... In their second season at SPU, Division I transfers Andy Poling (6-11, Gonzaga) and Modou Niang (6-10, Utah State) are the tallest tandem in SPU history.



Exhibition Recap
Jobi Wall scored 24 points, including the go-ahead basket on a layup with 2:20 left in SPU's 69-68 upset at No. 16 Arizona on Oct. 27 in Tucson. The Falcons led 37-29 at halftime. The Wildcats staged an 18-6 run and led by two before SPU scored six straight to take the lead for good. A potential game-winning trey by UA's Nick Johnson missed at the buzzer. On Nov. 4, C.J. Wilcox led four double-figure scorers for Washington with 19 points in a 77-60 win over SPU. Andy Poling's 12 points and seven rebounds paced the Falcons, who made just 10 of 23 free throws against the crosstown Huskies.

Giant Killers
Seattle Pacific is an NCAA Division II competitor that won three of its last four games against Division I opponents, all of them road exhibitions. The Falcons, who were 69-68 victors at Arizona on Oct. 27, defeated Eastern Washington (87-82) and Nevada (84-81) on the road in last season's exhibition contests. SPU lost 77-60 at Washington on Nov. 4. This year's two encounters increase to 18 the number of Division I foes the Falcons have faced during the last eight seasons.

Scouting Grand Canyon (1-1)
> GCU lost its season opener 83-66 at UNLV before posting a 77-70 home win over The Master's College last Wednesday.

> Braylon Pickrel lead the Antelopes with 13.5 points per game.

> Third-year GCU coach Russ Pennell was the interim head coach at Arizona in 2008-09 and directed the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

> The Antelopes encounter SPU for the fifth time in the last three seasons. They meet just once this season after playing home-and-away the previous two years. The home team won both 2009-10 meetings and the Falcons swept last season's two games. SPU won 79-68 on Nov. 27, 2010 in Phoenix and 71-52 on Dec. 4 in Seattle.

> Grand Canyon leads the series 11-7 despite losing the last three meetings vs. SPU.

> Third-year SPU coach Ryan Looney has a 3-1 record against the Antelopes.

Scouting Academy of Art (0-4)
> The winless Urban Knights lost 80-66 at home to UC San Diego on Saturday in their last outing. Their closest setback was an 80-70 loss vs. Cal State East Bay.

> This is the fourth season of competition for AAU, a Pacific West Conference member that posted a 5-21 record last year.

> The Falcons won the only previous meeting against AAU, an 89-70 decision on Dec. 29, 2009 in Seattle.

> Third-year SPU coach Ryan Looney has a 1-0 record against the Urban Knights.

Terrific Transfer
The Falcons frontline is bolstered by the addition of transfer Jobi Wall, a 6-foot-6 junior who led all scorers with 24 points in the win at Arizona (Oct. 27). He averaged 16.6 points and 7.7 rebounds and shot 44 percent on 3-pointers in 2010 at Colorado Christian. Wall used an injury red-shirt season last year at CCU. SPU got a first-hand look at Wall on Dec. 30, 2009 at Brougham Pavilion. He amassed 28 points and 13 rebounds, hitting 5 of 9 treys in a 73-69 Colorado Christian win over the Falcons. As a prep pitcher at Faith Christian High School, Wall tossed a perfect game and hit for the cycle in a five-inning contest during the 2008 Colorado state Class 3A playoffs.

Tropical Tour
The Seattle Pacific men got an early jump on the basketball season with a six-day trip to Nassau, Bahamas from Sept. 10-16. The Falcons swept three professional teams from the New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA). They won 96-63 over the two-time defending league champion Commonwealth Giants, defeated the league runner-up Real Deal Shockers 75-52 and beat the Mailboat Cybots 93-51. Andy Poling averaged a double-double on the trip, with 19.3 points and 11.3 rebounds.

2012 Preview
Third-year coach Ryan Looney returns three starters from last year's 20-10 squad that made its seventh straight playoff appearance. Heading the list of returnees is 6-foot-11 junior post Andy Poling, a Sporting News honorable mention All-American. The Gonzaga transfer averaged 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in his first year as a Falcon. Also returning is 2010 GNAC Freshman of the Year David Downs. He assumed the starting point guard duties midway through the season, after an injury sidelined All-American Chris Banchero, and averaged 6.9 points and 4.3 assists per game. The impressive list of newcomers features Jobi Wall, a 6-6 transfer who averaged 16.6 points and 7.7 rebounds in 2010 at Colorado Christian. Freshman Riley Stockton is the nephew of Hall of Famer John Stockton, the NBA's all-time assist leader. The SPU men were ranked No. 22 nationally among NCAA Division II teams in preseason coaches poll.

Looney's Ledger
Ryan Looney begins his third season after directing Seattle Pacific to postseason berths in each of his first two campaigns. His SPU record is 46-16 (.742). The Falcons were 20-10 last year and upset fifth-ranked Central Washington in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Looney led SPU to a 22-6 record in 2010 and became the first coach to direct the Falcons to a league title in his inaugural season. He was voted the 2010 GNAC Coach of the Year. Looney, who led alma mater Eastern Oregon University to the quarterfinals of the 2009 NAIA Division II Tournament, was hired May 26, 2009 as the coach at SPU. He won his opening nine games on the SPU sidelines, the first coach to win more than his first three for the Falcons. Looney, 36, has a 141-71 (.665) career record, including a 95-55 record in five seasons with Eastern Oregon. He directed EOU to back-to-back NAIA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009.

Seven-Year Surge
The Falcons posted a 146-59 record over the previous seven seasons, 12 more victories than any Great Northwest Athletic Conference team during that span. SPU compiled a 20-9 record in 2005, 26-6 in 2006, 18-10 in 2007, 21-8 in 2008, 19-10 in 2009, 22-6 in 2010 and 20-10 last season. The 146 combined wins are the second-highest seven-year total in school history, topped only by a 154-win run from 1996 to 2002. The Falcons competed in seven straight NCAA Division II Tournaments (2005-10), advancing to the national semifinals in 2006.

2011 Review
Seattle Pacific compiled a 20-10 record in 2011 en route to its seventh straight NCAA Division II Tournament berth. The Falcons placed third in the GNAC (12-6) and were the league's last team standing in the 2011 playoffs after upsetting fifth-ranked Central Washington 76-63 during a first-round game in Ellensburg. The Falcons will look to replace two starters, leading 3-point shooter Jeff Downs (95 treys) and top rebounder Ryan Sweet (7.2 rpg). Also departed is Chris Banchero, the 2010 West Region Player of the Year who missed the final 19 games last season due to a knee injury. He amassed 22.4 points and 5.6 assists per game before being sidelined.

Ticket Talk
Season tickets for SPU men's basketball games are still available and are a tremendous value, assuring a seat in the best location for every home game. Call 206-281-2085 for ticket information. Individual game tickets can be purchased at Brougham Pavilion (3414 Third Ave. W., Seattle 98119) on game day. Ticket windows open one hour before tip-off. Reserved seats are $8 for center court locations and $7 for other sideline areas. General admission tickets are priced at $6 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. Groups or teams of 10 or more may qualify for special GA rates by calling (206) 281-2085 at least 72 hours in advance. SPU students and staff are admitted free with i.d.