Box Score • Final Stats | • VIDEO: Coach Ryan Looney
SEATTLE – Senior
Patrick Simon led all scorers with 18 points Tuesday, including a 4-for-8 shooting from 3-point range, to lead the 14th-ranked Seattle Pacific men to a 91-54 non-conference basketball win over Northwest Christian University at Brougham Pavilion.
"I was impressed with our team tonight," Coach
Ryan Looney exclaimed. "We did a nice job against a very talented Northwest Christian team. For the first time we got to play a lot of different people some extended minutes."
Ten different players tallied at least two points for the Falcons (10-2), an NCAA Division II competitor. Northwest Christian (7-3) is an NAIA school located in Eugene, Ore.
A 6-foot-8 forward, Simon (Ephrata, Wash./Ephrata HS/WSU) netted 13 of his points before halftime, helping SPU build a 20-point lead at the break.
"Again a team zoned us for extended minutes in the game and Pat was able to find some holes and knock down shots," Looney described.
Freshman
Joe Rasmussen, a product of Mercer Island (Wash.) High School, amassed 14 points and made both of his 3-point tries. The 6-8 center entered the game with six total points as a collegian and a game-high of just two points.
"The game is moving a little bit fast for him right now. He hasn't got a ton of opportunity on game day so far. So to get himself out there for an extended time and then to make some positive things happen was big for him," said Looney in mentioning the progress of Rasmussen. He also singled out another newcomer for praise.
"
Jake Ehlers and
Joe Rasmussen did a nice job. It was good to see them give themselves and opportunity where they can build some confidence, because we're going to need them later this year."
A 6-7 sophomore forward from Corvallis, Ore., Ehlers transfered from the University of Portland prior to this season. He scored eight points Tuesday and made both of his 3-point shots.
"He can really shoot it," said Looney. "To be honest we've kind of been begging him to put them up and tonight he did."
David Downs added 11 points for the Falcons, who collectively shot 56 percent (33 of 59) from the field. They made 12 of 26 treys.
The Beacons scored first, on a 3-pointer by Coleton Baker, and claimed their largest lead at 5-1 just 1:40 into the game.
The visitors were ahead 12-9 before SPU scored nine unanswered points to ignite an 18-4 run. When
Riley Stockton capped the surge with a layup off an inbounds pass under the hoop, the Falcons led 27-16 with 8:12 left in the half.
Simon scored eight points during the final 3:15 of the period, including back-to-back 3-pointers. SPU took a 44-24 advantage into halftime after Rasmussen scored at the buzzer on a layup off a pass from
Will Parker.
The Falcons limited NCU to 29-percent shooting (7 of 24) from the field in the first half and 34 percent (19 of 56) for the game.
Austin Kuemper led the Beacons with 14 points and Harley Turner had 11.
Simon drained a trey 10 seconds into the second half and SPU later utilized a 15-2 spree to break the game open. The largest differential of 40 points came when Rasmussen hit a 3-pointer with 1:36 remaining to forge an 89-49 score.
The Falcons play one more game before taking a break for Christmas. They host Walla Walla University on Saturday at 5 p.m. as the nightcap of a doubleheader. The ninth-ranked SPU women play No. 10 West Texas A&M at 2:30 p.m.
Looney hopes to capitalize on the remaining practices this week and Saturday's game.
"We know that conference play is going to be extremely tough after the break. These next couple days and that one game, it's our only opportunity to continue to improve."
The SPU men resume Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on the road with a visit to Western Oregon on Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. They have a 2-0 league ledger and are tied atop the standings with fifth-ranked Western Washington.
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.
at (#14) Seattle Pacific 91, Northwest Christian 54
NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN (7-3)
Kuemper 6-17 2-2 14, Coleman 0-2 0-0 0, Stolk 2-3 1-3 5, Sullivan 1-2 0-0 2, Baker 2-7 2-3 7, Turner 3-9 2-2 11, Fox 3-7 2-3 8, Pacos 0-2 2-2 2, Wang 1-2 0-0 2, Risen 1-2 0-0 2, Gant 0-3 1-2 1, White 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-56 12-17 54.
SEATTLE PACIFIC (10-2)
Borton 2-5 0-0 5, Simon 5-10 4-4 18, Hutsen 4-7 1-2 9, Downs 3-7 2-2 11, Stockton 3-4 3-3 9, Rasmussen 6-6 0-0 14, Ehlers 3-4 0-0 8, Carroll 4-7 0-0 8, Penner 2-4 3-4 7, Todd 1-1 0-0 2, Hamlin 0-1 0-0 0, Parker 0-3 0-0 0, Morse 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 33-59 13-15 91.
Northwest Christian........... 24 30 - 54
Seattle Pacific............... 44 47 - 91
3-point goals--NCU 4-19 (Turner 3-8, Baker 1-4, Wang 0-1, Gant 0-2, Coleman 0-1, Fox 0-1, Kuemper 0-2), SPU 12-26 (Simon 4-8, Downs 3-5, Ehlers 2-2, Rasmussen 2-2, Borton 1-3, Parker 0-2, Penner 0-2, Carroll 0-2).
Fouled out--NCU-None, SPU-None.
Rebounds--NCU 29 (Kuemper 5), SPU 35 (Hutsen, Simon 5).
Assists--NCU 10 (White 4), SPU 22 (Carroll 5).
Total fouls--NCU 16, SPU 17.
Technical fouls--NCU-None, SPU-None.
Att.-312.
Next SPU Men's Basketball Game
Walla Walla University at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Dec. 21, 5:00 p.m.
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.
