Box Score

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CHICO, Calif. – The biggest Falcon of them all played huge as Seattle Pacific knocked off No. 8-ranked and previously unbeaten Chico State in the Mac Martin Invitational basketball tournament on Friday night, 62-50.

 

Gilles Dierickx, a senior transfer from the University of Washington and the first 7-footer in SPU history, poured in a career-high 20 points. The big Belgian also loomed large as the high-octane Wildcats were kept 39 points under their scoring average. Dierickx blocked five shots–four during the first half–and altered a handful of others.
 
The win was the fourth straight for Seattle Pacific (4-1) while Chico State dropped to 3-1.
 
The Wildcats, the preseason favorite to win the California Collegiate Athletic Association title, managed to convert just 34 percent (20-59) of their field goal attempts. Robert Duncan, who had been averaging 19.9 points and shooting 54 percent, was only 1 for 7 from the floor with two points.
 
"We were extremely proud of our effort on defense," Falcons head coach Ryan Looney said. "We knew that if we were to have a chance to separate ourselves in that game, we were going to have to give our best effort defensively for 40 minutes.
 
"We just played a team that was averaging 90 points a game," Looney added. "We had a very good plan, and our guys did a very good job of executing it. It wouldn't have been possible if our guys didn't play as hard as they did."

 

Dierickx used his size advantage inside to connect on 10 of 12 shots. Coming off a career-best 21 points in his last game, guard Bryce Leavitt (Kennewick, Wash.) finished with 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
 
"Our guys did a good job of finding (Gilles) in the post," Looney said. "And Bryce is just doing a little bit of everything for us."
 
SPU outscored the Wildcats inside, 44-30, including 11-4 in second-chance points. The visitors to Chico's Acker Gymnasium also owned the boards, 47-23. Garrett Swanson (Spokane, Wash. / Mead HS) had seven rebounds and Mitch Penner (Seattle / Kennedy HS) had six, to go along with 10 points.
 
Corey Silverstrom led Chico with 16 points off the bench. The starting five accounted for 21 points.
 
Although finishing with its lowest scoring sum in nine games dating back to last season, Seattle Pacific was efficient on offense, shooting 48 percent (25-52). Historically a threat from beyond the arc, the Falcons did not hit a 3-pointer and attempted just eight after averaging more than 20 in the first four outings.
 
Tied at 14-14 after 11 minutes, SPU moved out to an eight-point lead with a 10-2 spurt. Leavitt and Dierickx fueled it with four points apiece.
 
The Falcons forged a 10-point lead at 5:18 into the second half on a short-range Dierickx jumper off Leavitt's feed, making it 34-24. SPU limited the Wildcats to a single field goal during a 10-minute stretch, ending at the 8:39 mark.
 
A Swanson basket provided the biggest bulge at 42-26 with 10:56 remaining. Leavitt had begun the 12-2 run before Dierickx scored the Falcons' next three baskets.
 
Chico got no closer until nine until the final 90 seconds. Leavitt helped preserve the lead by making all six of his free throws in the final 45 seconds, and SPU converted nine straight at one point.
 
The Falcons finish the tournament on Saturday by facing Cal State East Bay at 5:30 p.m. The Pioneers crushed Simpson University of Redding, Calif., in the tournament's opening game, 86-48, sparked by the 21 points of Ryan Okwudibonye. 

 
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
Mac Martin Invitational
Friday, Nov. 27, 2015
Acker Gymnasium / Chico, Calif.
                                              
Seattle Pacific 62, Chico State 50
 
SEATTLE PACIFIC (4-1)
Bryce Leavitt 4-9 8-10 16, Will Parker 3-9 0-0 6, Gilles Dierkckx 10-120-0 20, Mitch Penner 5-11 0-0 10, Garrett Swanson 3-6 1-2 7, Sam Simpson 0-0 3-4 3, Kevin Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Joe Rasmussen 0-2 0-0 0, Gabe Colosimo 0-1 0-0 0, Nathan Streufert 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-52 12-16 62.
 
CHICO STATE (3-1)
Robert Duncan 1-7 0-0 2, Jalen McFerren 3-9 0-0 7, Tanner Giddings 3-7 0-1 6, Chris Magalotti 1-3 0-0 2, Drew Kitchens 1-10 2-2 4, Trevor Priest 0-0 0-0 0, Nate Ambrosini 1-1 0-0 2, Tyler Harris 1-2 0-0 2, Corey Silverstrom 5-13 5-5 16, Isaiah Ellis 4-7 1-2 9. Totals 20-59 8-10 50.
 
Seattle Pacific     28           34           -- 62
Chico State          22           28           -- 50
 
3-point goals – SPU 0-8 (Leavitt 0-1, Parker 0-3, Swanson 0-1, Rasmussen 0-1, Colosimo 0-1, Streufert 0-1), Chico 2-10 (McFerren 1-2, Kitchens 0-3, Harris 0-1, Silverstrom 1-4. Fouled out – Chico: Kitchens. Rebounds – SPU 47 (Leavitt 14), Chico 23 (Giddings 5). Assists – SPU 12 (Leavitt 5), Chico 9 (Duncan 5). Turnovers – SPU 13, Chico 6. Total fouls – SPU 13, Chico 15. Technical fouls – None. Attendance – 683.

Next SPU Men's Basketball Game
Mac Martin Invitational
Seattle Pacific vs. Cal State East Bay
Saturday, Nov. 28, 5:30 p.m.
Acker Gymnasium / Chico, Calif.