Box Score    |   Final Stats

HILO, Hawaii – Brendan Carroll used 11 of his 13 points to spark two decisive runs for 22nd-ranked Seattle Pacific, which completed its road trip late Wednesday night with an 84-74 men's basketball victory over host Hawaii Hilo in the Vulcans Thanksgiving Classic.
 
The Falcons (5-2) finished with a 3-1 record during their visit to Hawaii. They were supposed to play a fifth game, on Tuesday at Hilo's Civic Auditorium, but scheduled opponent Washburn (Kan.) had travel trouble arriving from the mainland.
 
Cory Hutsen tallied 15 of his team-high 21 points during the first half. He posted his fourth 20-point performance for SPU and his third in consecutive games. The 6-foot-8 junior center hit 10 of 15 shots from the field.
 
Joining Caroll and Hutsen in double figures were Matt Borton and Mitch Penner, with 14 points apiece.
 
SPU shot a stellar 57 percent (28 of 49) for the game and Hilo checked in at 47 percent (27 of 58).
 
The Falcons made just one 3-pointer in seven tries. Penner nailed one of two treys while five teammates each missed their only attempt from long distance.
 
Hilo hit 6 of 18 shots from 3-point range.
 
The Vulcans used a 12-2 surge to build an early 18-12 lead. Their margin was still six points, at 22-16, before SPU closed with a 20-7 run over the final 7:33 of the first half.

 

Carroll led the charge, scoring all six of his first-half points during the spree that gave the Falcons a 36-29 advantage at intermission.
 
While managing only a slight shooting edge during the opening 20 minutes, at 54 percent to 48 percent, the visitors capitalized on 10 Hilo miscues. SPU compiled 17 points off turnovers while allowing just two.
 
Carroll ignited a 16-2 run with a three-point play four minutes into the second half followed by a jumper one minute later. By the time Riley Stockton converted two free throws with 12:03 left to play, SPU owned a 58-38 lead.
 
Hilo never drew closer than the 10-point final differential the rest of the way.
 
The Falcons netted their final 11 points from the free throw line in 18 attempts during the final 3:45.
 
The Vulcans (2-2) are coached for the second season by former Central Washington assistant GE Coleman.
 
Tre Johnson led Hilo with a game-high 27 points on 8-of-9 accuracy from the field and 10-for-15 shooting on free throws. Joey Rodriguez added 12 points and Darnell Williams had 11.
 
The Falcons opened their road trip by defeating Hawaii Pacific 61-49 on Friday in a tournament in Laie, before losing to host BYU-Hawaii 87-74 on Saturday.
 
Seattle Pacific registered the program's most lopsided victory on Monday with a margin of 66 points in a 119-53 win over Northwest Indian College to open the Vulcans tournament. That marked the seventh-highest scoring output in school history.
 
The SPU men get a week off from competition before Great Northwest Athletic Conference play begins on Dec. 4 at Northwest Nazarene and Dec. 6 at Central Washington.
 
The Falcons next home game is Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. against George Fox. That is their only contest at Brougham Pavilion during the month of December.
 
SPU's first GNAC home game is slated for Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. against Western Oregon.
 
 
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
Vulcans Thanksgiving Classic
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014
Civic Center / Hilo, Hawaii
 
(#22) Seattle Pacific 84, at Hawaii Hilo 74
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (5-2)
Swanson 2-5 0-0 4, Hutsen 10-15 1-2 21, Stockton 2-5 5-8 9, Leavitt 0-1 0-0 0, Borton 5-7 4-7 14, Penner 4-5 5-11 14, Carroll 4-7 5-7 13, Rasmussen 1-3 1-2 3, Parker 0-0 6-10 6. Totals 28-49 27-47 84.
 
HAWAII HILO (2-2)
Johnson 8-9 10-15 27, Johnson-Wilson 3-5 0-0 6, Williams 5-11 0-0 11, Rodriguez 5-14 1-2 12, M. Campbell 0-3 0-0 0, Lockett 2-5 2-2 7, Dyachenko 2-7 1-2 7, Barinobis 0-1 0-0 0, D. Cambell 2-2 0-0 4, Ruiz de Carranza 0-1 0-0 0, Gahan 0-0 0-0 0, Marasigan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-58 14-21 74.
 
Seattle Pacific.............   36   48  -  84
Hawaii Hilo.................   29   45  -  74
 
3-point goals--SPU 1-7 (Penner 1-2, Leavitt 0-1, Stockton 0-1, Swanson 0-1, Carroll 0-1, Rasmussen 0-1), UHH 6-18 (Dyachenko 2-7, Johnson 1-1, Lockett 1-2, Williams 1-3, Rodriguez 1-3, D. Campbell 0-2). Fouled out--SPU-Hutsen, UHH-Lockett, Dyachenko. Rebounds--SPU 37 (Stockton 8), UHH 27 (Johnson 8). Assists—SPU 5 (Stockton 2), UHH 11 (Rodriguez, D. Campbell, Johnson, Johnson-Wilson, Lockett 2). Total fouls--SPU 20, UHH 34. Technical fouls--SPU-Swanson, UHH-Bench, Johnson Lockett. Att.-252.
 
 
Next Men's Basketball Game
Seattle Pacific Northwest Nazarene
Thursday, Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m. PST
Nampa, Idaho