SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team got the effort they needed against #23 Alaska Anchorage on Saturday afternoon, as the tightly contested game that featured seven ties and 10 lead changes between the Falcons and Seawolves resulted in an 80-75 win for the home team.
Saturday's game put the Falcons against the 23rd-ranked Seawolves. It was SPU's fourth game against a team acknowledged in the National Basketball Coaches Association's National Top 25 Poll (Receiving Votes or better). The team needed a bounce-back performance after a dreadful game to open Great Northwest Athletic Conference Play on Thursday. They got just that, as they led by a game-high 20 points, six rebounds, and three assists from Shaw Anderson.
"Proud of our guy's bounce-back efforts tonight," Interim Head Coach Keffrey Fazio said. "I think what this team understands so far this season is we can play and compete with everyone, but you must play with the necessary effort every night to win games. That's what is so great about this level and our conference. We've grown tremendously throughout this season and must continue to do so."
Anderson's standout performance catapults him higher on the all-time scoring leaderboard. His career total is now 1,537, moving him into fifth. He passed Harry Cavell's (2018-2022) 1,510 points, Howard Heppner's (1962-66) 1,521 points, and Jim Ballard's (1970-73) 1,530 points.
SPU led 56-55 with 11:15 to play in the game when two made free throws from Anderson sparked a 15-4 run. The Falcons went 5-for-7 from the field and hit both of their 3-point attempts. Six different Falcons scored during that stretch.
While the offense was good during the crucial 5:36 stretch, the defense was even better. The Falcons held the Seawolves to a 0-for-6 effort from the field. That stretch gave the Falcons a 69-60 lead.
The Seawolves gave the Falcons a scare in the closing moments. They'd pull to within four points with as little as 24 seconds left in the game. Clutch free throws Owen Moriarty kept the Seawolves at arm's reach as the Falcons secured the win.
Anderson was joined by Moriarty, and Trace Evans in double-figure scoring. Moriarty finished with 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting and a 7-for-10 performance from the free throw line. He had three assists and two rebounds. Evans scored 15 points on an ultra-efficient 7-for-8 shooting.
Jadin Penigar was huge on the glass for the Falcons, leading everyone with 11 rebounds. The Falcons pulled down 31 rebounds to 27 from the Seawolves.
The Falcons held the Seawolves to a 37.3 shooting percentage (22-for-59). Despite taking 20 fewer shots, the Falcons shot 66.7 percent from the floor (26-for-39).
It'll be more nonconference action on Friday, Dec. 8, when the Falcons host Douglas College at 7 p.m. inside Royal Brougham Pavilion.