SEATTLE – Trace Evans registered a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double and
Aengus Sutherland was perfect from the field in a 15-point performance Friday night for Seattle Pacific, which notched a 90-76 men's basketball victory in the regular-season home opener at Brougham Pavilion.
Evans led all players in both categories for the Falcons, who evened their early-season record at 1-1. Half of his 10 rebounds came on the offensive glass.
Sutherland was scoreless in his collegiate debut last weekend, but produced a point-a-minute in his second outing. He was perfect from the floor, nailing all seven of his attempts during a 14-minute, 29-second shift.
FROM THE COACH
"That was really cool for Aengus," SPU coach
Keffrey Fazio said of Sutherland's shooting display. "He's been one of our biggest risers this spring and fall. He's a tough kid and I'm really happy for him.
"I'm really glad our guys got to feel some pressure in some moments tonight. That's healthy for us and will serve us well.
"In college basketball nowadays, a win in November, we will take them all. We're still learning a lot. We have a pretty inexperienced team that's learning on the go. I'm happy we were able to find some bright spots tonight for them to build on."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- FIRST HALF: SPU started fast, opening a 6-0 lead with all six points coming from senior Trace Evans. The visiting Geoducks missed five shots and committed a turnover during that span.
- Evergreen finally got on the board just over three minutes into the contest on a 3-pointer from the left corner by Jordan Smalls.
- ESC got back-to-back baskets, on a jumper and three-point play, to even the score at 8-8.
- The Falcons then staged a 13-5 run, fueled by five points from freshman Brant Heppner, to go ahead 21-13.
- The visitors drew within three points before SPU went on an 11-4 spree en route to a 41-34 halftime advantage.
- The Falcons shot 53 percent from the field (16-30) in the opening 20 minutes while holding Evergreen at 41 percent (11 for 27).
- All nine Falcons who saw first-half action scored at least two points, led by eight from Evans.
- SECOND HALF: The teams combined for 11 points in the opening 88 seconds of the second period, with each getting a 3-pointer and two-point basket in their first two possessions and ESU adding a free throw.
- The teams traded baskets for the next eight minutes with the Falcons owning a 66-62 edge.
- SPU tallied six straight points to ignite a 12-2 run that produced an insurmountable 78-65 advantage.
- The Geoducks closed within 80-72 on the strength of an 8-2 run before the Falcons finished the game with a 10-4 spree.
FROM THE BOX SCORE
- Red-shirt freshman Aengus Sutherland, who didn't score last week in his collegiate debut, was SPU's second-leading scorer with 15 points. The red-shirt freshman had a perfect shooting night, going 7-for-7 from the floor. Eleven of those points were compiled after halftime.
- Trace Evans paced the Falcons with 19 points and completed the double-double by grabbing 10 rebounds. He sparked the team's 46-20 scoring advantage inside the lane.
- Evans and Sutherland represented half of the Falcons double-digit scorers. They were joined by Henry Sandberg with 14 points and Grant Coleman with 12.
- A 61-percent second half (19 of 31) pushed SPU's field goal accuracy to 57 percent for the game (36 of 61). They hit 36-percent from beyond the 3-point arc (9 of 25).
- Evergreen countered with 44-percent accuracy (25 of 57) and nailed 9 of 23 treys.
- Tony Frohlich-Fair topped the visitors with 19 points.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Theo McMillan distributed a career-high seven assists for the hosts, eclipsing the five he dished out at Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 29, 2024. He also contributed eight rebounds and six points.
- Nirvaan Misra, a freshman from nearby Seattle Prep High School, netted five points in his collegiate debut.
UP NEXT
The Falcons remain home to host the Thanksgiving Classic next weekend at Brougham Pavilion. SPU clashes with Vanguard on Friday (Nov. 28) at 2 p.m. to open a doubleheader with Central Washington meeting No. 7-ranked Point Loma in the nightcap at 4:15 p.m. The GNAC teams swap opponents on Saturday (Nov. 29) with CWU playing Vanguard at 2 p.m. and the Falcons facing Point Loma at 4:15 p.m.
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