LACEY, Wash. – For the second time this season, the Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team beat a ranked opponent when they took down 11th-ranked Saint Martin's 76-72 on the road on Saturday night.

FROM THE COACH
"We knew coming in here we're gonna have to give these guys our best shot, and I thought we did some things to get off to a fast start," head coach Keffrey Fazio said. "Credit our players for their willingness to step up to the challenge after a tough loss on Thursday. Everybody made big plays at times, and I am just really proud of our effort. Julian is a tough kid, and he makes big plays for us all the time. I'm just glad he's a Falcon."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first four minutes of the game belonged to the Falcons, as Grant Coleman capped a 12-6 run over the Saints with a 3-pointer.
  • SPU went 5-for-7 from the field to open the game.
• The Falcons kept their foot on the gas, going on a 15-8 run that put them up 27-18 with eight minutes left in the first half.
  • Five different Falcons scored during that run, led by five points from Julian Mora.
• Mora splashed a 3-pointer in the final moments of the first half, giving SPU a 39-31 lead at halftime.
• The Falcons led by six with 14:08 left in the game when they went on a 13-6 run.
  • The Falcons hit three 3-pointers during that span, led by six points from Brant Heppner.
• The Falcons led 71-58 with 4:39 left when the game took a chaotic turn.
• The Saints ripped off an 11-1 run that lasted 3:22 to pull within three points of the Falcons with 55 seconds left to play.
• Mora made four clutch free throws in the final 44 seconds, while the SPU defense made the stops it needed to secure the game.
• The Falcons earned a 76-72 win over the Saints. 

FROM THE BOX SCORE

• The Falcons finished the game 27-for-53 (50.9 percent) from the field, including 14 made 3-pointers.
  • Coleman led the team with six 3-pointers, while Mora and Heppner had four each.
• Mora led the Falcons with 19 points while going an important 5-for-6 from the free throw line.
  • He added five rebounds and three steals to his strong performance.
• Coleman had 18 points while going 6-for-9 from 3-point range.
• Trace Evans went 6-for-10 from the field and finished with 12 points.
• Heppner scored 12 points on four made 3-pointers.
• The McMillan did everything for the Falcons, finishing with 11 points, leading the team with six rebounds, while dishing out a game-high nine assists.
• SPU finished with 29 rebounds, with eight coming on the offensive end of the floor.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• SPU's victory over 11th-ranked Saint Martin's is the team's second win over a ranked opponent this season.
  • The first came when the Falcons beat then 4th-ranked Point Loma 80-73 on Nov. 29, inside Royal Brougham Pavilion.
• Coleman's six made 3-pointers are a new career high for 3-point field goals in a single game.
• Mora matched a career-high with three steals for the Falcons on Saturday night.

UP NEXT
The Falcons return to Seattle for home games next weekend. Action begins on Thursday, Feb. 5, with a matchup against Simon Fraser at 5:15 p.m., followed by a game against Western Washington on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 4:15 p.m.
 
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