COMMERCE, Texas -- Zack Paulsen registered a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double Monday, helping Seattle Pacific defeat previously unbeaten Texas A&M-Commerce, 70-61, in a non-conference men's basketball game at The Fieldhouse.
 
Paulsen capped the pivotal run of 13 unanswered points midway through the second half with a three-point play that provided a 51-43 advantage with 10:24 remaining. That spurt erased a five-point deficit and put SPU in front for good. The Lions never got closer than three points the rest of the way.
 
The Falcons (7-4) were victorious for the sixth time in their last seven outings, picking up their third straight win.
 
Commerce (6-1) tasted defeat for the first time and suffered its first blemish on a previously perfect 5-0 home record.
 
ZACK PAULSEN BASELINE DRIVE & DUNK

SCORING SUMMARY
Paulsen recorded the second double-double of his career, the first being a 19-point, 11-rebound performance at Cal Poly Pomona on Nov. 12. Joining him in double-figure scoring were three other Falcons.
 
Harry Cavell and Jacob Medjo each pitched in 13 points. A 6-foot-9 reserve forward, Medjo shot 3-for-5 from 3-point range and accounted for all but one of his team's treys. SPU made 4 of 19 shots from behind the arc.
 
 

"He can really shoot it and at that position it's really unique," SPU coach Grant Leep said of Medjo's long-range shooting acumen. "We knew their starting center is really athletic and long and was blocking four shots a game coming in. So, we knew that he was going to be really aggressive to stay around the basket and it was a really good opportunity for Jake to come in and find some open shots.
 
"At the end of the day it's a shot-making game and Jake did a really nice job of taking advantage of his opportunities."
 
Shaw Anderson compiled nine of his 12 points during the first half.
 
The Falcons shot 41 percent (24 of 58), but held their hosts at 37 percent (21 of 57). Free-throw accuracy proved to be the difference as SPU had one fewer attempt, but made four more freebies at 18 of 20. The Lions converted 14 of 21 free throws.
 
Demarcus Demonia notched 16 of his game-high 22 points after halftime, including three of his team's five treys.
 
Jairus Roberson tallied 16 points and Alphonso Willis added 10 for the Lions.
 
SECOND HALF SURGE
Demonia went to work early in the second half, scoring eight straight Commerce points, the final one a 3-pointer that generated a 40-33 lead with 14:28 left to play. That capped a 12-3 run, giving the appearance that the Lions were taking control.
 
The ensuing possession produced a set of plays that swung momentum in SPU's favor.
 
Syon Blackmon followed a missed trey by Medjo with a putback in a hard battle for the rebound. Cavell craftily stole the Lions inbounds pass and quickly finished an old-fashioned three-point play with a layup while being fouled and a free throw.

SYON BLACKMON TIP-IN, HARRY CAVEL STEAL & THREE-POINT PLAY

That exchange brought the Falcons within 40-38 and, after a trey by Roberson, set the stage for the game-changing 13-point spree.
 
Medjo ignited the surge with a 3-pointer and Anderson contributed a three-point play.
 
SPU secured the result by shooting 10-for-10 from the line over the final 7:40, including six free throws during the final 105 seconds.
 
SLUGGISH START
Neither team was effective offensively in the early going, creating a low-scoring affair that saw a 6-4 score in the Lions favor with over six minutes played.
 
SPU's lone basket in its opening eight shots came on an Anderson layup 90 seconds into the game.
 
"We didn't get off to the best start, but our defense was consistent all the way through. Even when we were having a little bit of a struggle making shots, we kept them from making shots as well," said Leep. "I was really pleased with our rebounding tonight, we finished plus-11 (43-32). When you do that, you are going to be in a lot of games. We did a nice job on a really big, strong, long and athletic team of keeping them to one shot.
 
"Our group handled adversity well tonight, they just kept playing for each other and staying together through it. We executed our stuff really well. We missed some open shots, and that's going to happen. But we stayed the course and kept believing and fighting and ended up pulling it out."
 
The Lions made their first shot, a jumper by Demonia one minute into the contest. They missed their next 10 attempts, but managed to lead 6-4 after a free throw from Demonia and three charity shots from Roberson with 13:40 showing on the clock.
 
The Falcons finally found the range, hitting five consecutive shots for an 11-0 run that forged a 15-6 advantage with 11:15 left in the half.
 
Commerce connected on the next five points to commence a comeback.
 
SPU led 28-22 with one minute to play before six straight points drew the Lions even.
 
Willis made baskets with 52.6 and 27.2 seconds left in the period and Augustine Ene hit a 12-foot jumper on the break as the horn sounded to set the halftime score at 28-28.
 
FALCONS FAST FACTS
• A strange trend continued as the team that scored first has lost all 11 games involving SPU this season. The Falcons conceded the first points on Monday as they have in each of their seven victories.
 
• Harry Cavell moved into the No. 13 position among all-time SPU scorers, increasing his career total to 1,294 career points. He moved ahead of Tony Binetti (2002-06), who had 1,283 points. Cavell is within one point of the 1,295-point total of No. 12 all-time scorer Gregg Kingma (1,295 points/1979-83) and two shy of No. 11 Mitch Penner (1,296 points/2013-16).
 
UPCOMING ACTION
The Falcons conclude their brief Midwest trip on Wednesday at Southeastern Oklahoma State. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time (7:30 p.m. Central) at Bloomer Sullivan Arena in Durant.
 
"It's shorter prep obviously, but no different than a conference game when we play Thursday-Saturday, just a little bit earlier in the week," Leep explained. "We have a pretty quick travel day, it's only about an hour north to Durant, Oklahoma, or maybe a little longer.
 
"We'll get a good practice in where we can go over our game plan. We'll get that all locked in and refined and then go back at it on Wednesday against another really good team. We challenged our guys with our schedule this year and they're stepping up to it right now. We're playing some good ball."
 
The Falcons will be back at Brougham Pavilion on Dec. 20 for their final non-conference game. They host Puget Sound at 3:00 p.m. for the last home game of the 2021 calendar year.
 
RECORDS
Seattle Pacific 7-4
Texas A&M Commerce 6-1
 
NEXT SPU GAME
Seattle Pacific at Southeastern Oklahoma State
Wednesday, December 15; 5:30 p.m. PST
Bloomer Sullivan Arena / Durant, Okla.