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This week...
Thr., Feb. 8, 6 p.m. PST -- MEN'S BASKETBALL at NORTHWEST
NAZARENE, Montgomery Fieldhouse, Nampa, Id.
Sat., Feb. 11, 7 p.m. -- MEN'S BASKETBALL at SEATTLE UNIVERSITY,
Connolly Center, Seattle, Wa.
Complete
2000 Schedule
Once more, with feeling...
For one last time, the maroon jerseys and shorts will be packed-up
as Seattle Pacific University plays its final two regular
season road games this week. The Falcons (9-3, 15-4), winners of
three in a row and 13 of the last 15 games, take flight to Idaho
and Northwest Nazarene (6-6, 9-12) Thursday night (Feb. 8). Prior
to their five-game homestand, they drive a short distance to
Seattle University (3-9, 6-15) for another Pacific West Conference
game Saturday night (Feb. 10). The homestand begins Feb. 15 versus
Saint Martin's.
Postseason picture...
Of the two paths possible for playoff qualification, Seattle
Pacific would prefer the direct route which it followed all the
way to the NCAA Division II semifinals in 2000, and that is
winning the PacWest champion's automatic berth. That would likely
include a first-round bye and possible home-court advantage in the
West Regional. An alternative is for the Falcons to finish among
the top six teams in the region. This week they should move up
from No. 6. Cal State San Bernardino and Western Washington, the
first two teams to defeat SPU this season, were Nos. 1 and 2.
Playoff brackets will be announced Mar. 4. Western currently holds
a one-game lead in the West Division of the conference.
Getting the job done...
Job One for Coach Ken Bone (11th year) is simply getting
his team to the postseason, as he has done six of the last seven
years. In most cases, Bone's teams have gone into March playing
their best ball of the season. He's hoping for the same this time
around, and the schedule certainly favors such. The final five
regular season games are all in Brougham Pavilion, where the
Falcons are 75-7 in the last seven years. Bone has averaged nearly
21 wins in his first 10 years, and has a 9-6 record in the NCAA
tournament.
Nick at night and earlier...
Beginning last week, there was doubt whether he would even play,
due to an ankle sprain. But Nick Johnson (Jr., 6-3,
Burlington, Wa./Burlington-Edison) did answer the bell, and not
only that, he delivered the knockout blows in home wins over
Hawaii Pacific and BYU Hawaii. Johnson totaled 43 points, but more
importantly delivered clutch plays late in each game. He scored
five of his 20 points in the final 5 minutes as the Falcons pulled
away from the Sea Warriors, 80-71. After carrying the team with 16
points in the first half of the homecoming matinee 70-59 win over
the Seasiders, he snared five offensive rebounds in the second
half, enabling his team to hold a slim lead before a strong push
in the final minute. Johnson made 14 of 25 shots for the week. His
eight boards vs. BYUH was one shy of his career high and his four
steals (two directly resulting in layups) was a career-best.
Hub back in business...
It was back to business as usual for all-conference forward John
Hubbard (Sr., 6-5, Inglewood, Ca./Grays Harbor CC) last week.
Hubbard, bothered by an injured shooting hand which contributed to
a three-game shooting slump, came off the bench for 22 points in
only 19 minutes vs. HPU. After entering the game he scored 10 of
the team's next 13 points. Hubbard also had 17 points vs. BYU
Hawaii, and for the two games shot 16 of 32 from the floor and
made five treys. He is seventh in conference scoring, averaging
18.0 points.
On the rebound...
So far this season, the Falcons have been feared mostly for their
deadly shooting, since they rank among the NCAA leaders in both
3-point (43 percent) and overall (51 percent) shooting accuracy.
But improved rebounding has also paid dividends. SPU leads the
conference with an average positive margin of 4.8 boards per game,
and it is 12-0 when out-rebounding an opponent this season. In the
Hawaii Pacific contest the margin was 41-26 with 19 offensive
rebounds. Center Eric Sandrin (Jr., 6-10, Bothell,
Wa./Shorecrest-Portland) posted his third double-double, with 10
boards and 13 points. He is second on the team in scoring (14.6)
and seventh in PacWest rebounding (6.8). Brannon Stone
(Jr., 6-9, Oak Harbor, Wa.) just missed his third double-double
(17 points, nine rebounds) vs. HPU and added a dozen points, five
assists, three blocks and three steals in the homecoming game.
Series, opponent notes...
The Falcons are 6-3 on the road this season, including wins in
three of the last four PacWest away games...Northwest Nazarene has
lost three in a row and six of its last eight. Thursday's game
will be carried live on the Internet at www.nnu.edu. The
Crusaders, although ineligible for NCAA postseason play, remain in
the hunt for an NAIA regional playoff spot. In the first meeting
at Brougham Pavilion Jan. 13, NNU trailed by 25 early in the
second half before trimming the margin to six. SPU reserve guard
Adam Harris (So., 6-0, Fox Island, Wa./Gig Harbor) hit 7-8
free throws in the final 5 minutes to preserve the 79-66 victory.
Seattle Pacific leads the series 29-19...Seattle University has
dropped eight straight to SPU, including an 84-55 loss Jan. 11.
The Redhawks shot just 35 percent and were out-rebounded 46-24.
They have lost seven of the last eight games.
Put-backs...
If SPU finds an opponent to replace the canceled Dec. 30 game with
Harding, it will almost certainly be played Feb. 26...Johnson
continues to lead the PacWest in 3-point accuracy at 59 percent
(26-44). Dennis Barmore set the school season record of 56 percent
in 1988-89...Stone remains the conference leader in blocked shots
(1.8) and is eighth in steals (1.7)...Sandrin is fifth in
field-goal accuracy (59 percent)...SPU is second in field-goal
percentage defense (.440)...Darrell Walker (Sr., 6-0,
Marysville, Wa./M'ville-Pilchuck-EWU) passed for a season-high
seven assists vs. BYU Hawaii. The team also had season-highs of 12
steals and 35 free throw attempts in that game...SPU has won its
last 13 homecoming games. A near-capacity crowd of 2,550 was on
hand last week.
S-P-U on the W-E-B...
You can follow Seattle Pacific via the world wide web. The
Falcons Online features weekly releases, rosters, schedules,
updated results, histories and coaching profiles for all 12
varsity sports. You're already here!
PacWest
Conference Standings
Personnel notes...
No Player Yr-Exp Hgt '00-01 stats Hometown Notes
4 Abe Fox Jr-2V 6-8 2.4/1.8 reb Port Townsend, Wa. Averaging 9.9
minutes; 12 pts v Linfield
10 Adam Harris So-1V 6-0 4.3/1.0 ast Fox Island, Wa. Gig Harbor
grad scored 14 points v TESC
11 Aaron Bellessa* So-1V 6-2 1.8/3.0 ast Federal Way, Wa. Starter
at point guard; 14-25 FG
20 Darrell Walker Sr-TR 6-0 7.0/3.3ast Marysville, Wa. 25-57
3-pointers, 44%; 1.3 steals
21 Brannon Stone* Jr-2V 6-7 14.4/5.7 reb Oak Harbor, Wa. 33 3ptrs;
1.8 blks, 1.7 stls; 82% FT
22 Jesse Keely So-TR 6-7 1.4/1.4 reb Fircrest, Wa. Played in 16
games; 7-14 FG
23 Nick Johnson* Jr-2V 6-3 13.6/4.7 reb Burlington, Wa. Career-hi
24 pts v Tarleton St.; 59% 3-ptrs
30 Gene Woodard So-1V 6-4 4.6/2.1 reb Edmonds, Wa. Career-high 20
pts at Linfield; 61% FG
32 John Hubbard* Sr-1V 6-5 18.0/3.3 reb Inglewood, Ca. 43-118
3-ptrs (36%); 79% FT
34 Eric Sandrin* Jr-TR 6-10 14.6/6.8 reb Bothell, Wa. 59% FG, 1.0
blks; 9-20 3-ptrs
40 Daniel Sandrin So-TR 6-7 3.4/2.9 reb Bothell, Wa. Averaging
13.7 minutes; 5-6 3 ptrs
42 Chris Cohen Fr-RS 6-8 0.8/0.9 reb Saint Helens, Or. Played in
12 games; 4-7 FG
*projected starter
Coach: Ken Bone (SPU '83) 11th year (223-90/.712)
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