BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team took on Central Washington in the quarterfinals of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships on Thursday night, as a late comeback from the Falcons fell short, with the Wildcats moving on 58-53.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Falcons got off to a hot start against the Wildcats with a 15-6 run over the first 7:35 of the game.
- The SPU defense kept CWU in check, holding them to a 3-for-11 performance during that span.
- Trace Evans led the SPU offense with four points during the run.
- Evans was one of five Falcons who scored during that stretch.
- Momentum swung toward the Wildcats, as they closed out the final 8:23 of the first half on a 22-9 run over the Falcons.
- SPU's offense sputtered down the stretch in the first half, going 3-8 from the field.
- Henry Sandberg scored four points of the Falcons' nine points during the run.
- The Falcons turned the ball over to the Wildcats four times, allowing them to take and extend their lead.
- The end of the first half put the Wildcats up 34-28 at the break.
- The Falcons trailed 52-40 with 5:29 remaining before getting back into the game.
- Brant Heppner splashed home a 3-pointer that started a 13-4 run over the next five minutes.
- The SPU offense found some rhythm, going 5-for-8 from the field.
- Heppner knocked down a layup and another 3-pointer to score eight of SPU's 13 points during the run.
- Defensively, the Falcons kept the Wildcats in check, as they went 2-for-8 from the field during that stretch.
- Julian Mora's floater in the lane, followed by a free throw from Grant Coleman, put the Falcons down by three points with 10 seconds left.
- The Falcons couldn't find a way to tie the game, and two free throws from CWU's Jordan Clark put the game away, as the Wildcats took it 58-53.
FROM THE BOX SCORE
- The Falcons shot 33.3 percent (21-for-63) from the field in Thursday's quarterfinal game.
- Evans and Heppner tied with a team-high 11 points.
- Evans added four rebounds, while Heppner tied Sandberg's team-high of six rebounds.
- Coleman went 3-for-5 from the field and finished with 10 points for SPU.
- McMillan dished out a game-high seven assists while scoring seven points and grabbing four rebounds.
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