Complete Box Score

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Jan. 18) -- John Hubbard scored 19 points and Nick Johnson added 18 as Seattle Pacific University parlayed hot second-half shooting into its first road victory over Central Washington in 17 years, clipping the Wildcats 84-80 in a Pacific West Conference men's basketball game at Nicholson Pavilion.

Hubbard (Sr., 6-5, Inglewood, Ca.) scored the final five points of a pivotal 15-2 surge at the outset of the second half as the Falcons went ahead to stay. Johnson (Jr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa.) was 7-8 from the field and scored 11 of his points in the second half, during which SPU hit 64 percent of its field goals to wipe-out a 4-point halftime deficit.

The loss was Central's (3-3, 8-6) third in a row and its first home conference loss in 30 games, dating back to 1996. SPU (4-2, 11-3), which has won nine of its last 10 games, had dropped 10 in a row on the road to the 'Cats since 1984.

Trailing 37-33 at intermission, Seattle Pacific made its first six shots in the second half while the Wildcats missed five of their first six attempts. Daniel Sandrin (So., 6-7, Bothell, Wa.), starting the second half for a foul-plagued Brannon Stone, hit a trey to put SPU in front, 40-39. It also started a run of 11 unanswered points. Hubbard capped it, converting a 3-point play and a layup for a 48-39 lead.

The lead eventually bulged to 13 points on three occasions. But Justin Bursch brought Central back with two late treys, and another deep shot from Justin Thompson trimmed the lead to just 81-80 with 64 seconds left.

Hubbard hit one free throw and Stone two in the final 36 seconds while the Wildcats missed their final four shots. Hubbard also led SPU with eight rebounds. Stone had eight of his nine points in the final 13 minutes and passed for five assists. Seattle Pacific center Eric Sandrin (Jr., 6-10, Bothell, Wa./Shorecrest) connected on his first five shots and finished with 15 points and seven boards.

Thompson led Central Washington with 15 points. Matt McDonald came off the bench for 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Overall, SPU made 57 percent (28-49) of its shots from the floor, and 9-17 3-pointers. That, and 23 Central turnovers, compensated for the Wildcats' 41-27 advantage in rebounds.

Seattle Pacific plays at Saint Martin's Saturday night while Central hosts Western Washington.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
Bellessa 3, Stone 9, Johnson 18, Hubbard 19, E. Sandrin 15, Fox 0, Harris 7, Walker 5, Woodard 0, D. Sandrin 8.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
Bursch 11, Chapman 13, Thompson 15, Rinta 3, Littleton 3, Nealey 10, Moore 4, Mitchell 8, Felker 3, Townsan 0, McDonald 10.

Halftime -- CWU 37, SPU 33.