• Complete Release (pdf)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 –
Alaska Anchorage at Seattle Pacific, 7:30 p.m. PST
Brougham Pavilion • Seattle, Wash.
 
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 –
Alaska Fairbanks at Seattle Pacific, 5:15 p.m. PST
Brougham Pavilion • Seattle, Wash.
 
• Webcast for both games: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/spu/
• LiveStats for both games: www.sidearmstats.com/spu/mbball
 
The Seattle Pacific men's basketball team seeks to succeed at home this week preceding an upcoming road-heavy schedule. The Falcons (12-4, 4-2 GNAC) host their Great Northwest Athletic Conference rivals from the north, beginning on Thursday, Jan. 15 against Alaska Anchorage (8-7, 4-1). Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. at Brougham Pavilion as the nightcap of a doubleheader with the SPU women who play at 5:15. The Falcons men won the last five encounters versus Anchorage, their longest winning streak in the series. On Saturday, Jan. 17 the SPU men play the opener of a doubleheader, hosting Alaska Fairbanks (5-8, 2-3) at 5:15 p.m. The Nanooks lost 13 of their last 14 meetings with SPU. Following this week's home contests, the Falcons play five of their next seven games on the road. That stretch is capped by Feb. 12 and 14 visits to Fairbanks and Anchorage.
 
Ticket Talk
Individual tickets for SPU basketball games 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 and general admission tickets are priced at $6 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. Groups may qualify for special GA rates by calling (206) 281-2085 in advance. SPU students and staff are admitted free with i.d.
 
Falcons Fast Facts
SPU has recorded three 100-point games for the first time since the 2006 season. The last time the Falcons hit the century mark more often was in 2000 with five 100-point performances ... Seniors Riley Stockton and Cory Hutsen were named to the 15-man Preseason All-GNAC team and the defending league champion Falcons were projected third by the conference coaches poll ... Sophomore center Joe Rasmussen's father, Blair, had a eight-year NBA career in Denver and Atlanta.

 

Recapping Last Week
Mitch Penner and Matt Borton both had double-doubles for Seattle Pacific, which held Simon Fraser 43 points below its NCAA-leading scoring average in a 115-81 road win on Jan. 8. Penner amassed 31 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Borton compiled 21 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. SPU shot 61 percent (41-72) versus the Clan. On Jan. 10 in Bellingham, Ricardo Maxwell drove the length of the court for a buzzer-beating layup, lifting Western Washington to a 68-66 win over the Falcons. Penner hit two free throws with 3.7 seconds left to tie the score. The subsequent inbounds pass went to Maxwell, who dribbled the length of the floor before flipping the ball in off the left side of the glass. Reserve Shawn Reid scored 21 points to pace SPU.
 
Hutsen Joins 1,000-Point Club
Cory Hutsen scored his 1,000th career point on Dec. 12, becoming the 34th player in SPU men's basketball history to reach that milestone. The 6-foot-8 senior center is currently tied for 26th on SPU's scoring list with 1,084 points, matching the total of Brandon Larrieu (2006-10). Hutsen leads SPU with a 15.9-point scoring output that includes seven 20-point performances.
 
Scouting Alaska Anchorage (8-7, 4-1 GNAC)
> The Seawolves bring the GNAC's longest active win streak into Thursday's clash, a five-game skein.
 
> UAA features 6-foot-2 junior guard Brian McGill, who ranks third among GNAC scorers (16.4 ppg) and second in assists (6.1 apg).
 
> The Seawolves lead the all-time series 35-32 despite losing the last five meetings, their longest losing streak ever versus SPU. The Falcons were 81-74 winners in last year's first meeting on Jan. 11, 2014, their 10th consecutive win over UAA in Seattle. SPU was an 88-76 victor in the Feb. 6 rematch in Anchorage.
 
> Sixth-year SPU coach Ryan Looney has an 8-4 record against Anchorage.
 
Scouting Alaska Fairbanks (5-8, 2-3 GNAC)
> Saturday's matchup pits the two best 3-point shooting teams in the GNAC. SPU ranks No. 1 at 40.7 percent and the Nanooks are No. 2 at 37.2%.
 
> UAF is led by the 14.5-point scoring average of Ashton Edwards while Ruben Silvas chips in 12.2 points per game.
 
> Mick Durham is in his fourth year as head coach at UAF. The former Montana State head coach spent the previous three years as an assistant at New Mexico State. He has an 0-6 record against the Falcons.
 
> SPU leads the series 55-15 and won 13 of the last 14 encounters.
 
> Sixth-year SPU coach Ryan Looney has a 9-1 record against Alaska Fairbanks.
 
Straight Shooters
The Falcons rank No. 5 nationally in field goal accuracy at 52.6 percent. That figure includes a 40.7-percent mark on 3-pointers that is the GNAC's best. SPU reached the 50-percent mark in nine of its 16 games and outshot opponents on 11 occasions, winning them all. Seven SPU players are shooting at or above the 50-percent plateau led by senior Matt Borton at 58.4 percent overall from the field, including 68.5% on shots inside the 3-point arc (50 of 73).

 

Prolific Passer
Senior guard Riley Stockton has distributed 389 assists during his career, a figure that ranks him No. 9 among all-time SPU playmakers. He needs 45 assists to eclipse the total of 433 compiled by Brannon Stone (1991-2002) and take over the No. 8 spot. Stockton posted two 100-assist seasons, in 2013 (113) and 2014 (125).
 
Famous Uncle
Senior guard Riley Stockton is the nephew of NBA Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton, who compiled a record 15,806 assists during his 19-season career with the Utah Jazz (1984-2003). Riley was an honorable mention All-GNAC honoree in 2014 and is a preseason all-league pick this year. The 2013 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, Riley Stockton prepped at Ferris High School in Spokane, Wash. In 2013, the 6-foot-4 guard became the shortest player to lead the GNAC in rebounding at 7.5 boards per game. Stockton led SPU with 5.8 rebounds per game last season while scoring at a 8.1-point clip and averaging 3.9 assists.
 
2015 Season Preview
Seattle Pacific has two large holes to fill, but don't discount the Falcons as they seek to extend the nation's longest playoff streak. Gone is 2014 GNAC and West Region Player of the Year David Downs. The All-America point guard averaged 20.4 points and 4.7 assists while ranking third nationally in 3-point accuracy at 47.4 percent. The national 3-point leader? Patrick Simon (50.0%), another SPU graduate and first-team All-GNAC selection, who averaged 16.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 2014. Filling the void for that dynamic duo is a trio of stellar starters entering their senior season. Guard Riley Stockton was the 2013 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and is a stat-sheet stuffer. Center Cory Hutsen will get more shots to improve his 10.9-point scoring production. Matt Borton scored at a 7.6-point clip last year after transferring from Idaho. Sixth-year coach Ryan Looney believes Borton is capable of greatly increased point production and is a potential breakout star. Also returning is super sub Mitch Penner, a junior forward who averaged 8.8 points and keyed several big non-conference victories. The Falcons lineup is bolstered by senior guard Shawn Reid, a transfer from Montana State who sat out last year as a red-shirt. A pair of junior college transfers are expected to make an immediate impact, especially Bryce Leavitt from North Idaho College in the newly vacant point guard role. Forward Garrett Swanson from Casper (Wyo.) JC is a sharpshooter who should ease the loss of Simon's long-range productivity. SPU competed in the last 10 NCAA Division II Tournaments and advanced to the West Regional championship game in 2012 and 2013.
 
2014 Season Review
The Falcons forged a 26-6 overall record last year, coming within one of the school record for single-season wins. They posted a 15-3 record to claim the 2014 conference regular-season championship and followed that with their second straight GNAC Tournament title. The Falcons participated in the NCAA playoffs for the 10th consecutive year and lost an 80-72 overtime decision against Cal State Stanislaus. Senior point guard David Downs was honored as a first-team All-American as well as the GNAC and West Region Player of the Year. He averaged 20.4 points in 2014 and departed ranked No. 2 in SPU career assists (561) and No. 3 in points (1,786).
 
Looney's Ledger
Ryan Looney, the 2014 GNAC Coach of the Year, directed Seattle Pacific into the playoffs in each of his five previous seasons. He has a 130-38 record at SPU, including a 26-6 mark last year. SPU won both GNAC regular season and tournament championships in 2014. The Falcons registered a 27-4 record in 2013, equaling the school standard for single-season victories while establishing the best winning percentage (87.1%) in program history. They won the 2013 GNAC Tournament title after placing second in the standings with a 16-2 conference record. SPU advanced to the West Region championship game in both 2012 and 2013. Looney led SPU to a 22-6 record in 2010 and became the first coach to direct the Falcons to a conference championship in his inaugural season. He was voted the 2010 GNAC Coach of the Year. Looney, who led his 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, 39, has a 225-93 career record, including a 95-55 ledger in five seasons with Eastern Oregon.