Box Score    |    VIDEO: Joe  Rasmussen

SEATTLE – Coach Ryan Looney gave the highest praise possible to a player.
 
"Without Joe offensively, we probably don't win tonight. There's been some nights now, especially recently, where he's really stepped up for us."
 
Rasmussen surpassed his career-high by halftime, amassing 22 of his 25 points during the opening period of 13th-ranked Seattle Pacific's 76-64 men's basketball win over Northwest University in the Oak Harbor Freight Lines Classic at Brougham Pavilion.
 
The NCAA Division II Falcons (8-1) stretched their winning streak to eight games with a non-conference victory over their NAIA opponent from Kirkland, Wash.


 
Rasmussen (Mercer Island HS) hit his first seven shots en route to an 8-for-9 performance in 14 first-half minutes. The 6-foot-8 junior center was the lone early bright spot for SPU as the remaining players made just 3 of 20 shots before halftime.
 
"Joe did a good job running offense hard to get himself in position where guys could get him the ball in areas where he can be effective," Looney described. "It really helps that Joe can also step outside and hit a jumper so they have to guard him on the perimeter."
 
Rasmussen drained 3 of 4 treys and made all four of his free throws.
 
Saturday marked the third time Rasmussen had led his team in scoring. His previous top output was 20 points, posted against BYU-Hawaii on Nov. 20. He totaled 18 on Dec. 3 at Simon Fraser.
 
He is the son of former eight-year NBA veteran Blair Rasmussen, who played for Denver and Atlanta.

 

Senior forward Mitch Penner (Kennedy HS) was the Falcons only other double-digit scorer, compiling 10 of his 14 points from the free throw line.
 
SPU's 7-foot senior center, Gilles Dierickx chipped in nine points. He also collected eight caroms to help his team control the rebounding battle, 42-29.
 
Northwest (5-7) was led by the 31 points of Michael DuPree. He made 12 of 19 shots from the field and 6 of 7 free throws. Alex Smith added 11 points for the Eagles.
 
"I was extremely impressed with Northwest. We watched a lot of film on them and that's the best that they've played all year," Looney said. "Their point guard, DuPree, outplayed our point guards. He was a tough cover and allowed them to hang around in the game."
 
SPU started slow, missing its first six shots and getting just two free throws in the opening four minutes to trail 5-2. Five of the next seven shots fell as the visitors were outscored 13-3 over the next 3 ½ minutes. Rasmussen came off the bench to do most of the damage, netting nine points during that span.
 
His put-back basket with 12:29 left in the first half put the Falcons up, 15-8.
 
Northwest chipped away at the deficit and evened the score 18-18 on two free throws from Zach Smith at 9:18.
 
SPU closed the half with a 15-7 surge to claim a 38-29 margin at intermission.
 
The Eagles tallied nine of the first 12 points in the second half to draw within 41-38. They cut the margin to two points on five occasions, but each time their hosts answered with points.
 
The final Northwest rally came with 4:57 left to play when Ben Tucakovic's 3-pointer closed the gap to 60-57.  SPU scored the next six points, all of them on free throws, to secure the lead.
 
The Falcons finished the game with a 16-7 surge over the final 4:42, converting all 10 of their attempts from the line during that stretch.
 
The Classic concludes Saturday in Brougham Pavilion, beginning at 4:30 p.m. with Montana State Billings playing Northwest.
 
SPU clashes with Azusa Pacific at 7 p.m. The Cougars won the 2015 NCAA Division II West Region championship.
 
"We will turn the page and hopefully play better Saturday. In all reality, to win we're going to have to be the same group that showed up against Western Washington, Dixie State and Chico State," Looney said, citing the Falcons' three significant road victories.
 
"We're playing the defending region champs. To be able to win a game like that you have to be at your best."
 
Azusa defeated Montana State 82-63 in Friday's first game of the tournament.

NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL
Oak Harbor Freight Lines Classic
Friday, Dec. 11, 2015
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.
 
at (#13) Seattle Pacific 76, Northwest University 64
 
NORTHWEST (5-7)
Tuckakovic 3-10 0-0 8, Z. Smith 1-3 2-2 4, Loranger 0-2 0-0 0, DuPree 12-19 6-7 31, Shagren 2-11 0-0 4, SA. Smith 4-5 0-0 11, Ogbaslassie 2-7 2-2 6, ims 0-0 0-0 0, Norton 0-1 0-0 0, Ghebremichael 0-0 0-0 0, Ball 0-0 0-0 0, Stack 0-0 0-0 0, Jenkins 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-60 10-11 64.

SEATTLE PACIFIC (8-1)
Penner 2-6 10-13 14, Swanson 0-3 2-2 2, Dierickx 3-5 3-4 9, Leavitt 1-3 4-4 6, Parker 2-8 4-4 9, Rasmussen 9-12 4-4 25, Carroll 2-9 3-4 7, Streufert 1-3 2-4 4, Betu 0-0 0-0 0, Colosimo 0-2 0-1 0, Simpson 0-0 0-0 0 Wooten 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-51 32-40 76.
 
Northwest University..........  29   35   -  64
Seattle Pacific...............  38   38   -  76

3-point goals--NWU 6-21 (A. Smith 3-4, Tucakovic 2-7, DuPree 1-3, Z. Smith 0-1, Norton 0-1, Shagren 0-3, Ogbaslassie 0-2), SPU 4-21 (Rasmussen 3-4, Parker 1-6, Carroll 0-4, Streufert 0-1, Swanson 0-3, Colosimo 0-2, Penner 0-1). Fouled out--NWU-Loranger, SPU-None. Rebounds--NWU 29 (Ogbaslassie, Tucakovic 6), SPU 42 (Dierickx 8). Assists--NWU 7 (Z. Smith 3), SPU 10 (Carroll 4). Total fouls--NWU 26, SPU 12. Technical fouls--NWU-None, SPU-None. A-600.

Next SPU Men's Basketball Game
Oak Harbor Freight Lines Classic
Azusa Pacific at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, Dec. 12, 7:00 p.m. PST
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.