Complete Box Score

SEATTLE (Feb. 1) -- John Hubbard came off the bench for 22 points and Nick Johnson added 20 as Seattle Pacific University parlayed a decisive rebounding advantage into an 80-71 Pacific West Conference victory over Hawaii Pacific Thursday night at Brougham Pavilion.

The Falcons (7-3, 14-4), winners in 12 of the last 14 games and six straight at home, finished with a 41-26 edge in rebounds, including 19 boards at the offensive end.

Leading by just six points with 8 minutes to go, Hubbard helped Seattle Pacific pull away, connecting a on short jumper to begin a 16-6 run. Johnson and Brannon Stone (Jr., 6-9,Oak Harbor, Wa.) each connected on 3-pointers and had five points apiece during the spree, which put SPU in front 79-63 with 3:06 remaining.

Hubbard (Sr., 6-5, Inglewood, Ca.) played just 19 minutes but snapped out of a three-game shooting slump to hit 8 of 15 shots from the field, including three 3-pointers. Johnson (Jr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa.), operating mostly in seams under the Sea Warriors' zone, made 6 of 9 field goals and was 7 of 8 at the line.

Stone finished with 17 points and nine rebounds and--along with Eric Sandrin (Jr., 6-10, Bothell, Wa./Shorecrest), who had 13 points and 10 boards--collected five offensive rebounds.

Hubbard, coming off the bench because of a nagging hand injury, immediately sparked the Falcons after entering the game. He scored 10 points during a quick 13-5 burst which put SPU ahead 20-10 midway through the first half.

The lead grew to 13 points before the Sea Warriors (3-7, 8-11) began whittling away. Larz Stewart scored 11 points in the final five minutes of the period, cutting the deficit to 39-32 at intermission.

Stewart and Nick Spaijic both fouled out. Stewart and Nash Subotic led the Sea Warriors with 17 points each. It was a pair of Subotic treys which helped HPU come within 59-56 with 10 minutes left.

Hawaii Pacific has lost six of its last seven games and three in a row to SPU, beginning in the 1999 NCAA tournament. The Falcons outscored the Sea Warriors at the line, 25-14. Both teams shots 44 percent from the floor (24-54).

SPU hosts BYU Hawaii in a rematch of last year's PacWest title game Saturday at 3:30. Hawaii Pacific plays at West Division leader Western Washington.

HAWAII PACIFIC --
Smith 13, Spaijic 4, Jensen 0, Paul 10, Avilla 5, Stephens 17, Subotic 17, Stewart 17, Karamovic 5, Lagemann 0.

SEATTLE PACIFIC --
Stone 17, Woodard 3, E. Sandrin 13, Bellessa 0, Johnson 20, Fox 0, Harris 0, Walker 5, Keely 0, Hubbard 22, D. Sandrin 0.

Halftime--.SPU 39, HPU 32.