AZUSA, Calif. – After being delayed by a day from a cancellation, the Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team played its season-opener against Chico State on Saturday afternoon, when a late run from the Wildcats forced overtime, where the Falcons fell 80-71.

FROM THE COACH
"I thought our guys were ready to play today," head coach Keffrey Fazio said. "Proud of their effort and togetherness. We will learn from this and adjust to how teams try to get us out of our rhythm."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons opened the first half with a 9-4 run that lasted the first 2:51 of the game.
  • Trace Evans scored four points, while the run was capped by a 3-pointer from Grant Coleman.
• Midway through the first half, the Falcons erupted for a 22-9 run lasting 7:29.
  • SPU went 9-for-13 from the field during that stretch, including a 4-for-6 effort from 3-point range.
    • Julian Mora led the Falcons with three 3-pointers during that time, while newcomer Connor Drinkwine had four points.
• The Falcons led the Wildcats 40-32 at halftime.
• Both teams had a slow start to the second half, but the Falcons put it together sooner, going on an 8-4 run over the first 6:25 of the second half.
  • Coleman sparked the run with a 3-pointer, Henry Sandberg made a tough jumper, and Mora converted an and-one opportunity during the run.
    • The run gave the Falcons a 48-36 lead with 13:25 left to play.
• The Wildcats chipped away at the SPU lead until Jeremiah Dargan hit a jumper to tie the game at 62 with 33 seconds left.
  • Dargan had another look as time expired, but it bounced off the rim and sent the Falcons and Wildcats into overtime.
• The Wildcats opened overtime with a quick 6-0 run, creating enough separation from the Falcons to take the game 80-71.

FROM THE BOX SCORE

• Both teams shot 43.1 percent from the field in Saturday's game.
• The Wildcats shot 81.6 percent (31-for-38) from the free throw line.
  • The Falcons only had 21 attempts from the free throw line.
• Mora led the Falcons with 18 points while going 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
• Coleman poured in 16 points and had seven rebounds for the Falcons.
• Trace Evans finished with 10 points and seven rebounds against the Wildcats.
• Theo McMillan scored nine points and matched Evans and Coleman with a team-high seven rebounds.
• Sandberg scored nine points and had six rebounds for SPU.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Chico State entered the season receiving votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll.
• Mora matched a career high in points scored, previously set against Daemen on Nov. 5, 2023.
• Drinkwine and Brant Heppner scored their first career points with the Falcons.
  • Drinkwine finished with six points, and Heppner hit a 3-pointer.

UP NEXT
The Falcons return to Seattle to play their home opener on Friday, Nov. 21, against The Evergreen State College at 7:00 p.m. inside Royal Brougham Pavilion.
 
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