SEATTLE -- Xavier Smith tallied 18 of his game-high 23 points during the second half for Central Washington, which gained a double-digit lead after halftime Thursday and held on for a 68-65 men's basketball win over Seattle Pacific in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
 
The Falcons (4-4) faltered in their league opener on Iron Coaching Court at Brougham Pavilion despite building a 13-point first-half advantage and a 32-27 halftime edge. They are the defending champions, winning the regular-season title in 2020 and no conference campaign was conducted in 2021. SPU was a unanimous choice as this season's league favorite by the GNAC preseason coaches' poll.
 
Central (4-1) reeled off eight unanswered points to claim its first lead of the game, at 35-34, with 16:52 remaining. That ignited a longer, 14-2 run that provided a 41-36 advantage with 14:53 showing on the clock. Smith's six points sparked the spree.
 
A quick 8-2 rally, fueled by five Zack Paulsen points, put SPU back in front for the final time. Sharif Khan capped that surge with a 3-pointer for a 44-43 lead with 11:32 left to play.
 
The Wildcats immediately responded, taking control of the game for good with 12 unanswered points, the last two coming on a jumper by Smith. That produced a 55-44 margin with 8:33 remaining.
 
Divant'e Moffitt scored seven points during the final 2:35. He sandwiched a 3-pointer and two free throws around the front-end miss of a one-and-one by David Thompson to draw the Falcons within 66-65 with 11 seconds to play.
 
Smith was fouled and converted two free throws with 7.6 seconds displayed on the clock to set the final 68-65 score.
 
SPU ran an inbounds play from the left sideline with 5.1 seconds to play, setting Khan up for a right-corner trey. But his shot clanged off the side of the backboard as time expired.

ZACK PAULSEN DRIVING LAYUP FROM DIVANT'E MOFFITT

Moffitt finished with 16 points and accounted for four of the Falcons six assists. Paulsen was his only teammate in double figures with 14 points.
 
SPU was better from long range, nailing 38 percent of its 3-pointers (11 of 29) compared with 35-percent shooting inside the arc (13 of 37). The overall figure was 36 percent (24 of 66).
 
The Wildcats did their damage inside as a 46-24 points-in-the-paint comparison can attest. They shot 45 percent (29 of 65) and attempted just four 3-pointers, making half of them.
 
Smith led the way with 8-for-17 accuracy along with a perfect game from the line in seven free throw attempts. Gilson added 12 points. Matt Poquette chipped in eight points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds to pace Central's 43-36 command of the boards.
 
FALCONS FAST START
The hosts raced out to a 7-2 margin, making their first three shots. The final two of the trio came on baskets by Shaw Anderson.
 
SPU's lead was 13-8 before a nine-point run, started by back-to-back treys from Khan and Bijon Sidhu, opened the game's largest disparity. When Anderson hit a layup with 13:28 left in the first half, his team led 21-8.
 
Gilson single-handedly kept Central in the contest, tallying six straight points to narrow the margin to 21-16. That began a steady erosion of the gap that narrowed to 32-27 at halftime after Smith closed the period with a reverse layup.
 
There were no ties and no lead changes during the opening 20 minute as the Wildcats didn't lead at all during the first half. That would soon change after intermission.
 
TIP-INS
• A strange trend continued Thursday as the team that scored first has lost all eight games involving SPU this season.
 
• Shaw Anderson was prevented from compiling double-figures for the first time this season with nine points. Now, no Falcon has reached double digits in every game.
 
• Central Washington halted an eight-game losing skid in the series versus the Falcons. The Wildcats have lost 19 of the last 24 meetings, but still have a 65-26 series lead.
 
• Divant'e Moffitt climbed to No. 31 among all-time SPU scorers, increasing his career total to 1,081 points to move ahead of Brad Barrett, who compiled 1,071 points from 1980-84.
 
UPCOMING ACTION
The Falcons remain at home to host GNAC rival Northwest Nazarene on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. at the nightcap of a basketball doubleheader with the women, who play NNU at 2:00 p.m.
 
The four-game homestand concludes on Dec. 8 at 7:00 p.m. versus Northwest University from Kirkland.
 
RECORDS
Central Washington 4-1
Seattle Pacific 4-4
 
NEXT SPU GAME
Northwest Nazarene at Seattle Pacific
Saturday, December 4; 4:15 p.m.
Brougham Pavilion / Seattle, Wash.