Complete Box Score

SEATTLE (Feb. 3) -- Nick Johnson poured in 23 points and snared eight rebounds, five on the offensive end, to help push Seattle Pacific University (8-3, 15-4) past BYU Hawaii 70-59 before a near-capacity crowd Saturday afternoon at Brougham Pavilion.

The Falcons, winning a homecoming game for the 13th consecutive year, never trailed in the final 18 minutes, but it was not until the final 70 seconds that they pulled away to down the Seasiders in a rematch of last year's Pacific West Conference game.

John Hubbard (Sr., 6-5, Inglewood, Ca.) added 17 points and Brannon Stone (Jr., 6-9, Oak Harbor, Wa.) 12 for Seattle Pacific, which won its third straight and 13th in the last 15 games.

Kelly Hendrickson paced BYU Hawaii (5-6, 11-9) with 18 points, including 12 in the second period, but was his team's only scorer in double figures. The Seasiders shot just 42 percent from the field and committed 23 turnovers yet stayed in contention by out-rebounding theFalcons by a decisive advnatage unti lthe final five minutes.

Johnson (Jr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa.) carried his team in the first half, hitting 7 of 10 shots. Still, the Seasiders held the lead, 31-29, at intermission. A Hubbard trey from the left wing and a Johnson layup capped a burst of seven straight points which gave SPU the lead for good, 38-34, three minutes into the second half.

Johnson collected all five of his offensive rebounds in the second half, including three on one possession. He also made four steals. Stone added three blocked shots.

BYU Hawaii's Scott Salisbury had 11 rebounds and helped give his team a final edge of 32-29.

Seattle Pacific maintained the lead but back-to-back layups by Gene Woodard (So., 6-4, Edmonds, Wa./O'Dea) started another 9-2 run midway through the period and BYUH never got closer than four points thereafter.

SPU converted 8 of 10 free throws in the final 3:23, and scored the game's last six points, puntuated by a Hubbard blocked shot and dunk shortly before the buzzer. For the game the Falcons shot 45 percent (23-51) and were 20-26 at the line.

With the victory, Seattle Pacific will at least keep pace with West Division leader Western Washington, which defeated Hawaii Pacific Saturday. SPU travels to Northwest Nazarene Thursday and Seattle University Saturday before playing the final five regular season games at home.

BYU HAWAII--
Villa 2, Frampton 6, Hendrickson 18, Gates 9, Turley 6, Daley 0, Evans 5, Skinner 4, Specht 0, Young 0, Stilson 6, Salisbury 3.

SEATTLE PACIFIC --
Stone 12, Hubbard 17, E. Sandrin 5, Bellessa 0, Johnson 23, Fox 0, Walker 3, Keely 2, Woodard 6, D. Sandrin 2.