SEATTLE – After opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference play in Alaska last weekend, the Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team returned home for a nonconference game against Evergreen State College. The Falcons played their game by controlling the tempo, defending well, and making shots, leading to a 99-54 victory over the Geoducks on Thursday night.
"Great effort from our guys tonight," head coach Grant Leep said. "I loved the effort and intensity we came out with to start the second half. We took advantage of some great opportunities in transition because of our defense and how we got stops. This team is continuing to grow and get better. We have great depth at all five positions which we will continue to use going forward. With the week and a half, we have left before the break we need to keep growing and continue to get better."
The Falcons and Geoducks engaged in a feeling-out process over the first eight minutes of the game. SPU created separation with a brief 8-2 run that lasted 2:13. Kelton Samore capped the run with a layup that gave the Falcons an 18-12 lead.
The Geoducks cut into the Falcon lead, as they trailed 27-21 with 5:52 left in the half. From there, the Falcons closed out the half with a 15-5 run. It was highlighted by a vicious dunk from Syon Blackmon, and a putback jumper from Zack Paulsen as time expired. SPU led 42-26 at the break.
SPU took over with a 14-2 run over the first 5:01 of the second half. Another run broke out when the Falcons led 65-35 with 12:37 to play. SPU Strung together five consecutive 3-pointers, capped by a layup from Kobe Elsner that put the team up 81-41. The Falcons played out the final 8:41 of the game before taking it 99-54.
The Falcons suppressed the Geoducks to a 9-for-31 shooting performance (29 percent) from the field in the second half. SPU shot 64.3 percent (18-for-28) from the field, including a 10-for-17 (58.8 percent) clip from behind the 3-point line.
Five Falcons scored in double-figures against the Geoducks on Thursday night. Casson Rouse led the group with 14 points on 4for-7 shooting from the field. He hit three 3-pointers, had three rebounds, and dished out three assists. Samore had a big night as well. He finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Clayton Whitman and Shaw Anderson tied with 13 points each Whitman was efficient, going 5-for-6 from the field while knocking down three 3-pointers. He did a little bit of everything by grabbing three rebounds, handing out two assists, and nabbing three steals. Julian Mora rounded out the five in double-digit scoring. He scored 11 points and had three rebounds.
SPU enjoyed 53 points from the bench in Thursday's contest. The team turned 10 seals into 20 points and scored 36 points in the paint. The Falcons had an advantage on the glass as well, pulling down 42 rebounds to just 31 from the Geoducks.
The Falcons set their sights on the final nonconference games until postseason play. They travel to San Marcos, CA to take on San Marcos on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Then on Dec. 19, the Falcons are in Carson, CA to face Dominguez Hills at 3 p.m.