SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team opened Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Thursday night against Alaska Fairbanks, who gave the Falcons fits and went on to take the game 82-64.

Maui Sze returned to the court for the first time since the season-opener on Nov. 3. He came through for the Falcons in a big way at the end of the first half. SPU was on the wrong end of a 21-1 run by UAF. It was stopped by Sze, who scored seven points over the final minute of the half. The short burst led by Sze put the Falcons down 41-32 at halftime.

The Nanooks opened the second half with a 12-0 run. They'd go on to take the game 82-64. They gained an advantage in rebounds (39 to 28) and held the Falcons to a 40.7 shooting percentage (24-for-59).

Shaw Anderson had another standout game for the Falcons on Thursday. He led all scorers with 23 points while shooting 8-for-17 from the field. He knocked down two 3-pointers and went 5-for-6 from the free throw line. Anderson had eight rebounds and three assists.

Sze scored 11 points in his return to the Falcons on Thursday. Trace Evans scored nine points, while Kyle Luttinen and Jonas La Tour each scored eight points.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. as they host #23 Alaska Anchorage.