SEATTLE – The Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team extended its winning streak to a season-best four games on Saturday afternoon when the Falcons beat 25th-ranked Saint Martin's 72-65 inside Royal Brougham Pavilion.
The Falcons faced a tough test in the Saints on Saturday. Saint Martin's has spent most of the season in the National Association of Basketball Coaches top 25 national polls. Timely baskets and tough defense were the answers to that test for the Falcons, as they left Royal Brougham Pavilion with their fourth consecutive victory.
"We're starting to find our identity," head coach Keffrey Fazio said. "The games are starting to look the same. That's a good thing. I'm happy for our guys and their effort. We defended well and stuck to our game plan. However, you don't win games against a top-25 team without a team effort. Happy for our guys and the work they have put in thus far."
The game between the Falcons and the Saints featured 12 ties and 15 lead changes. The score was tied at 52 when SPU went on its game-winning run. Jonas La Tour and Grant Coleman splashed home back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a 15-6 run that lasted 8:44. Five Falcons scored during that stretch, led by five from La Tour. The Falcons made free throws late to secure the victory.
Mason Landdeck scored a game-high 20 points. He was great from 3-point range, sinking four of his seven attempts. Landdeck added four rebounds and five assists to a solid all-around performance.
Jaxon Nap was sensational on the glass. He tied SMU's Myles Samuels with a game-high 11 rebounds. Saturday was Nap's 12th game this season with double-digit rebounds. He's had double-digit rebounds in his last four games.
"I thought Mason and Jaxon played well at their respective jobs," Fazio said. "Mason ran our offense well, and Jaxon's decision-making and rebounding was excellent."
La Tour was the second-leading scorer for the Falcons against the Saints. He had 16 points and made timely shots for SPU. Owen Moriarty was the only other Falcon in double-figures with 13 points and a perfect 6-for-6 performance from the free throw line. Moriarty has had 12 games in which he's made every free throw he's attempted this season. He hasn't missed a free throw in five games and has made 23 in a row.
Coleman played 18 minutes off the bench for SPU. He scored all seven of the Falcons bench points, grabbed four rebounds, and had an assist.
The Falcons hit the road next weekend for two more GNAC games. Action resumes on Thursday, Feb. 6 when the Falcons play Simon Fraser at 7:00 p.m. in Burnaby, B.C.
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