SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team has a busy Thanksgiving week ahead of them, with three games over five days. The Falcons host Sonoma State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. followed by a trip to Colorado for games against MSU Denver and Regis on Friday and Saturday.
QUOTABLE
"This past weekend we certainly had some highs but also experienced some lows in our competition. As we look towards a three-game week, the challenge is continuing to find our urgency as these early-season contests can be very impactful down the road in March. One thing we as coaches our learning about this team is they are hungry to improve and they realize there is an opportunity in front of us to be successful. These next three contests can really point us in a certain direction. We are looking forward to it." - head coach Keffrey Fazio
LAST TIME OUT
SPU played host to the PacWest/GNAC Challenge over the weekend. The Falcons took on Azusa Pacific and CUI. They'd walk away with a weekend split on their home floor.
The Falcons played their home opener in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge on Friday night, as five Falcons scored in double-figures, leading to an 86-82 victory over the Cougars.
Shaw Anderson led all scorers with 24 points on 6-for-15 shooting from the field. Anderson took advantage of his free throw opportunities, sinking all 11. Anderson grabbed three rebounds and had three assists in a strong performance.
Jadin Penigar had a career night for the Falcons against the Cougars. He scored 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including four 3-pointers. Penigar pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds as part of his first double-double with the Falcons.
SPU took on CUI in the final game of the PacWest/GNAC Challenge on Saturday night, and after trading baskets early, the Falcons couldn't get the stops they needed against the Golden Eagles and fell 84-78.
Jonas La Tour lit up the Golden Eagles on Saturday night. He splashed home six 3-pointers on his way to 18 points. La Tour added three rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Owen Moriarty scored 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting. Penigar completed a fine weekend with 15 points and six rebounds.
ABOUT SONOMA STATE
The Seawolves were picked for a ninth-place finish in the CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll. Sonoma State head coach Rich Shayewitz returns for his third season with the program. After recording just three wins during the 2021-22 season, Shayewitz and his group rattled off 13 wins during the 2022-23 season and qualified for postseason action for the first time since 2017. Adding to the program's success, Shayewitz also helped produce the 2022-23 conference Player of the Year in Jaylen Wells, the program's second CCAA Player of the Year since SSU joined the conference back in 1998.
The Seawolves return key starters in Nick Medeiros, Dillon Iyawe, Julian Bryant, and sharpshooter Pierce Rexford. All are in their second year with the program. Iyawe, Rexford, and Medeiros all averaged over seven points last season, with Rexford finishing second in 3-point percentage (41% 3PT). Medeiros was also second on the team with 65 assists and finished the season strong with an 11-point performance in the conference tournament win over Cal Poly Humboldt.
ABOUT MSU DENVER
The MSU Denver men's basketball team was picked to finish sixth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in the league's annual preseason coaches poll. The Roadrunners finished tied for seventh, going 12-17 overall and 9-13 in league play a season ago. MSU Denver returns two full-time starters in RMAC Co-Freshman of the Year Brayden Maldonado at point guard, and All-RMAC honorable mention forward Caleb McGill.
ABOUT REGIS
Regis finished the 2022-23 campaign in eighth place in the RMAC standings with a record of 12-16 overall and a 9-13 mark in the conference. Guards Eddy Egun, and CJ Reed, along with wings Chase Mayo Harmon, and Vojin Mastilovic return after playing significant roles for the Rangers. They're joined by seven newcomers including forward Tarig Eisa, a transfer from Florida A&M, and two junior transfers in Jayhden Moncrease and Trey Bryant Jr.
