FAIRBANKS, ALASKA – Seattle Pacific University men's basketball has a new all-time scoring leader in
Shaw Anderson, who set a new record in a 62-56 victory over Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday evening.
Anderson's climb to the top of the SPU scoring mountain has been consistently great. Anderson started each of the 115 games he's appeared in with the Falcons. He's averaged more than 34 minutes per game in those appearances. Anderson has accumulated 694 field goals, 207 3-pointers, and 364 free throws. It adds up to 1,959 career points, and sole possession of a program record that hasn't been touched in 66 years, or roughly 792 months, or more than 24,000 calendar days.
"Simply put,
Shaw Anderson is one of the best players to ever wear an SPU uniform," interim head coach
Keffrey Fazio Said. "He's the hardest worker, he's never complained, whined, or had a bad attitude at any point during his time here. As members of the SPU community, we couldn't ask for a better person to have accomplished this, because he's about everything right."
Anderson entered Saturday's game six points away from breaking the all-time scoring record. With 5:17 remaining in the first half, Anderson knocked down the 207th 3-pointer of his career to move to the top of the all-time scoring list.
Shaw dethrones SPU Athletics Hall of Famer Loren Anderson. Loren established 13 program records during his time at SPU. Shaw now claims three of those records, including career points (1,959), career field goals (694), and single-game free throw percentage (16-for-16).
"This is a very huge accomplishment," Anderson said. "I'm aware that becoming a leading anything for a program is a special feat and scoring is one that is great. I have had some amazing teammates and coaches that have helped me become the player I am. I couldn't have gotten any records without all my teammates. I also want to thank Coach (Grant) Leep, Coach (Kegan) Bone, Coach (Gabe) Colosimo, and now finishing with Coach Fazio, Coach Rollman, and Coach Choi. I've been blessed with great coaches."
SPU's 65-64 victory over the Alaska Anchorage on Thursday was massive for their postseason aspirations. It unofficially locked them into the tournament, as they held tiebreakers over the Seawolves and Western Washington. Saturday's win over the Nanooks puts the Falcons on a four-game winning streak heading into the postseason.
The Falcons overcame a sluggish first half on Saturday.
Jonas La Tour knocked down a 3-pointer with 14:12 remaining in the game. It started a 10:35 run that saw SPU outscore UAF 25-10.
Kyle Luttinen led the team with six points during that stretch, while La Tour,
Trace Evans, and
Jadin Penigar scored five points each. The Falcons led 54-46 and would keep their lead until the final buzzer.
Anderson and Luttinen tied with a team-high 16 points each. Luttinen made four 3-pointers. Evans was the only other Falcon in double-figures with 11 points. The big man tied Anderson and Penigar with a team-high seven rebounds.
The Falcons turn their attention to the postseason. They'll play in the first round of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday.
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