SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team was up for the challenge against No. 22 Saint Martin's in their return to the court on Thursday, but the Saints pulled away in the second half to take down the Falcons, 71-53.
The Falcons controlled the game's pace throughout much of the first half. Jonas La Tour scored the first basket for the Falcons. It started an 11:32, 23-12 run for SPU. The Falcons went 8-for-14 from the field during that run. Most of the SPU scoring came near the basket, as the run didn't feature a 3-pointer for SPU.
Owen Moriarty and Mason Landdeck led the way for the Falcons during that run. Moriarty scored nine points, while Landdeck poured in eight points of his own.
SPU's defense was solid during that stretch as well. They held the Saints to a 6-for-18 shooting performance from the field. SPU held SMU to a 12-for-31 first half shooting performance with just two made 3-pointers on their home floor.
SPU led 23-17 with six minutes left in the first half. The Saints marched back into the game with a 13-3 run to end the first half. Five different Saints scored during that time. SMU gained a 30-26 lead that they carried into halftime.
Thursday's game featured five ties and eight lead changes. A majority came in the opening minutes of the second half. Nikias Schoenerstedt knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Falcons up 45-42 with 13:19 left. Unfortunately for the Falcons, the Saints would take control of the game from there.
The Saints used a 20-0 run in the middle of the second half to put the game out of reach for the Falcons. SMU's Myles Samuels dropped eight points during that span. The Saints went on to take the game 71-53.
"Our game plan was executed well in the first half," head coach Keffrey Fazio said. "Unfortunately, we could not hang in mid-way through the second half. SMU is a good team. They did not let up. Credit to them for playing all 40 minutes."
Moriarty led the Falcons with 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting. He was perfect from the free throw line to continue his excellent shooting from the foul line. Landdeck was the only other Falcon in double-figures, finishing with 12 points.
Jaxon Nap entered the contest as the conference's best rebounder, leading the league with nine per game. He grabbed 14 rebounds against the Saints on Thursday. It was Nap's fifth consecutive game with double-figures in rebounds.
The Falcons travel to Monmouth, Ore. for a game against Western Oregon on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.
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