SEATTLE (Feb. 10) - John Hubbard popped for 21 points as hot-shooting Seattle Pacific University won its fifth straight game, 83-51 over Seattle University in a Pacific West Conference men's basketball game Saturday night at Connolly Center.

The Falcons (10-3, 17-4), holding an opponent under 60 points for the third game in a row and the fifth time in the last 10 outings, allowed only seven points in the opening 10:14 of the second half to quickly draw away for their ninth consecutive win over the Redhawks (3-11, 6-17).

Brannon Stone (Jr., 6-9, Oak Harbor, Wa.) added 14 points, six assists and eight rebounds for SPU and Eric Sandrin (Jr., 6-10, Bothell, Wa./Shorecrest) 11 points. Jesse Keely (So., 6-6, Fircrest, Wa./Bellarmine) came off the bench for a career-high 10 plus five rebounds.

Seattle Pacific, coming off a season-low 38 percent shooting at Northwest Nazarene Thursday night, shot 61 percent from the field in the first half and 53 percent 927-51) for the game. The Falcons committed a season-low eight turnovers and allowed Seattle U. to make only 18 of 55 field goals (33 percent).

Hubbard, who scored 12 of his points in the opening period, connected on 6 of 7 shots, his only miss coming on a deep 3-point attempt in the second period.

A barrage of 3-pointers got the Falcons in front early before the defense helped widen the gap. Hubbard (Sr., 6-5, Inglewood, Ca.) and Adam Harris (So., Fox Island, Wa./Gig Harbor) hit treys on four consecutive possessions for an 18-12 advantage, and when Harris finally missed, Stone converted the rebound.

Later in the period, the Redhawks were held to just one free throw over a span of 5:45 while Seattle Pacific surged to a 32-18 lead. Seattle U. forward Jeff Nelson scored 10 points in the opening 8 minutes but Nick Johnson (Jr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa.) helped deny him another field goal until the 16:45 mark of the second half.

Hubbard, Stone and Sandrin, who flushed three dunks, combined to score 30 of the 43 SPU first-half points. Nelson led SU with 19 points. The Redhawks have lost nine of their last 10.

The Redhawks were unable to mount any rally in the second half as SPU stifled any attempted penetration. The Falcons went on a 25-5 tear to go ahead by 74-40 with 6:35 to go. At that point Coach Ken Bone pulled the last of his starters.

The Falcons' two wins this week, combined with losses by Cal State Bakersfield , Humboldt State and Cal Poly Pomona, could move them up as far as No. 3 in the West Region rankings. The top six teams in each region qualify for next month's NCAA Division II tournament.

SPU begins a five-game homestand Thursday night when it hosts Saint Martin's at 7.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
Stone 14, Hubbard 21, E. Sandrin 11, Bellessa 1, Johnson 4, Fox 3, A. Harris 8, Walker 0, Keely 10, Woodard 9, D. Sandrin 2, Cohen 0.

SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
Nelson 19, Crespinel 2, McLaughlin 4, robinson 5, Roberts 1, Tsuchikawa 0, Leonard 3, Brooks 2, J. Harris 3, Montefour 3, Morris 0, Leptich 9, Aurand 0, Duhe 0. Halftime-SPU 43, SU 30.