FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Julian Mora matched a career-high 26-point performance for the Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team, helping the Falcons get past the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, 82-75.
 
FROM THE COACH
"Proud of the way our guys stayed in this game and fought until the end," head coach Keffrey Fazio said. "Credit to Fairbanks, they worked their way back into it and made us earn it. I'm proud of the guys for doing what it took to get the road split this weekend."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons had a one-point lead over the Nanooks before taking over for the final eight minutes of the first half.
  • SPU went on a 23-6 run over UAF to close out the first half.
    • The Falcons went 7-for-11 with four made 3-pointers during that stretch.
    • Julian Mora scored 10 points during that span, while Brant Heppner added six points of his own.
• The run gave the Falcons a 47-29 lead at halftime.
• The Falcons led by 11 points with 13:29 left in the game, before a quick 7-3 run gave them a 60-45 lead with 11 minutes left in the game.
  • Aengus Sutherland had a nice stretch, scoring four points for the Falcons on that run.
• The Nanooks didn't go away quietly, using a 15-5 run that started with five minutes left to play in the game to pull to within two points of the Falcons with 1:44 remaining.
• Mora hit two clutch free throws, followed by a tough three-point play from Trace Evans to give the Falcons a 78-73 lead with 36 seconds left.
• SPU hit four free throws over the final 23 seconds to secure an 82-75 victory over the Nanooks.

FROM THE BOX SCORE

• The Falcons shot it well, finishing with a 48.1 percent (26-for-54) field goal percentage, including nine made 3-pointers.
  • SPU found success at the free throw line as well, sinking 20 of their 27 attempts (74.1 percent).
• Mora led everyone with 26 points on 8-for-17 shooting, while going 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
• Evans poured in 17 points with six rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
• Theo McMillan led the Falcons with eight rebounds, 11 points, and four assists offensively.
• Sutherland and Heppner poured in nine points each.
  • Sutherland pulled down six rebounds, while Heppner went 3-for-4 from 3-point range.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Falcons have now won five of their last six games against the Nanooks.
• Mora scored 26 points, matching a career-high set when the Falcons beat then 4th-ranked Point Loma 80-73 earlier this season.
• Evans set a new career-high with seven assists for the Falcons on Saturday.

UP NEXT
The Falcons hit the road next weekend for a game at Western Oregon on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m., followed by a game in nearby against 12th-ranked Saint Martin's on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 5:15 p.m.
 
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