This week...
Thr., Feb. 15, 7 p.m. -- MEN'S BASKETBALL v SAINT MARTIN'S, Brougham Pavilion, Seattle, Wa.
Sat., Feb. 18, 7 p.m. -- MEN'S BASKETBALL v CENTRAL WASHINGTON, Brougham Pavilion, Seattle, Wa.

Complete 2000 Schedule

The (home) games begin...
As the final push for the playoffs begins, each and every Falcon fan has five opportunities to grab a front-row seat. That's because Seattle Pacific University (10-3, 17-4), a winner in eight of its last nine games, will play its final five regular season games at home, beginning Thursday (Feb. 15) when Saint Martin's (4-9, 9-13) visits. Saturday (Feb. 17) marks the annual arrival of Central Washington (9-4-, 14-7), which is also in the postseason hunt. Next week, the homestand continues Feb. 22 with Humboldt State, another contender.

Postseason picture...
A year ago, the Falcons found themselves entering the final three weeks as one of the top two teams in the West Region of NCAA Division II. This time around, despite replacing four seniors in the starting lineup, they are knocking on the door again, and appear within reach of a seventh tournament appearance in eight years. Although fifth in the regional rankings a week ago, a pair of road wins, coupled with three of the top four teams losing, could move SPU as high as No. 3. Six teams will receive NCAA invitations Mar. 4.

PacWest is tight...
Victories at Northwest Nazarene (66-57) and Seattle University (83-51) helped Seattle Pacific keep pace with Western Washington in the West Division of the Pacific West Conference. The two teams will meet in Seattle Mar. 3 with the division title likely hanging in the balance. Also at stake could be one of the top two seeds in the region and a first-round playoff bye. Central Washington, currently third in the division, plays at Western Thursday.

Home sweet Brougham...
This season's schedule sets-up quite nicely for a strong stretch run, given the Falcons' formidable home-court record under Bone. In his 10-plus seasons the team is 144-13 in Brougham Pavilion, including a mark of 53-2 in home conference games the past nine seasons. Central Washington, incidentally, is the only PacWest team to win in he pavilion over than span, doing so each of the past two years.

Ticket information...
Reserved seating for all home games is priced $7 and $6. General admission tickets are $5 with students and senior citizens $3. Group rates are available by calling (206) 281-22085 in advance. Pavilion ticket windows open one hour prior to tip-off.

Defense, plain & simple...
Few teams in the West can match the dedication and intensity displayed by Seattle Pacific's defense over the years. During the first half of this season the team was clearly more offense-oriented. Yet in the last month Coach Ken Bone (11th year) has the Falcons returning to their roots and pressuring opponents all over the court. The result is that foes have been held under 60 points in five of the last 10 games, and the average yield has been just 65.0 per game. SPU leads the PacWest in scoring defense (72.1) and is second in field-goal percentage defense (.430). The team is 10-0 when holding opponent under 40 percent shooting.

Hub heats up...
Offensively speaking, forward John Hubbard (Sr., 6-5, Inglewood, Ca./Grays Harbor CC) has heated up in February. In the four games played this month the SPU scoring leader has snapped out of a late-January funk to shoot 54 percent from the field and average 19.2 points while playing just 24.5 minutes. At Seattle U., Hubbard only had 19 minutes of court time but scored 21 points by sinking 6 of 7 field goals, including 2 of 3 treys. He led the way with 17 points at NNU and is averaging 18.1 for the season, seventh in the PacWest.

Numbers will only grow...
One of the most complete players in the nation, forward Brannon Stone (Jr., 6-9, Oak Harbor, Wa.) turned in just another "average" line of stats vs. the Redhawks. He led the Falcons in rebounds (8), assists (6) and also had a couple steals and 14 points. While doing so, Stone moved onto the career list for rebounds at No. 10 (607) and steals at No. 4 (139). He became the school's all-time leader in blocked shots as a sophomore, with a current tab of 213. Stone tops the team this season in assists (3.6), blocks (1.8), steals (1.9) and free throw percentage (.837) while averaging 14.1 points and 5.9 boards.

Bench presses...
Bone must have been encouraged by the performance of his reserves last week, particularly at Seattle U. Jesse Keely (So., 6-7, Fircrest, Wa./Bellarmine-Portland) enjoyed his strongest week of the season, with 17 points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes of action. His four offensive boards at Northwest Nazarene were important in helping his team overcome a season-low 38 percent shooting. Against the Redhawks Keely came through with 10 points and five rebounds, plus a blocked shot. Also at SU, fellow forward Gene Woodard (So., 6-4, Edmonds, Wa./O'Dea) grabbed four rebounds, all the offensive end, and parlayed those second chances into nine points of his own. Darrell Walker (Sr., 6-0, Marysville, Wa./M'ville-Pilchuck-EWU) passed for seven assists in the two games and Adam Harris (So., 6-0, Fox Island, Wa./Gig Harbor) helped spark SPU early vs. the Redhawks with a pair of 3-pointers.

Put-backs...
Nick Johnson (Jr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa./Burlington-Edison) posted his first career double-double at Northwest Nazarene, scoring points and clutching 11 rebounds. Johnson, who leads the PacWest in 3-point accuracy (.587) is averaging 13.2 points and is second on the team in offensive rebounds (40)...Center Eric Sandrin (Jr., 6-10, Bothell, Wa./Shorecrest-Portland) had three memorable slams at Seattle U. and, demonstrating his versatility, hit his 10th 3-pointer of the season at NNU...Sandrin is No. 7 in PacWest field-goal percentage (.580) and No. 8 in rebounding (6.6). Stone is the blocks leader, No. 7 in steals and No. 8 in free throws. Harris (.538) trails only Johnson in 3-pointers while Walker is No. 7 (.426). SPU leads the league in rebounding margin (+4.6) and 3-point accuracy (.416).

Series, opponent notes...
The Falcons will go for their fifth straight in over Saint Martin's, having defeated the Saints in Lacey 63-51 Jan. 20. The series stands 69-31 in favor of SPU. SMC has dropped seven of its last 10 games...Not since 1968 has SPU managed to sweep a regular season series from Central Washington. The 84-80 victory Jan. 18 in Ellensburg was the first in Nicholson Pavilion since 1984. Central, which has won six of seven, leads the series 57-30 but under Bone SPU is 10-9.

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 2.3/1.8 reb Port Townsend, Wa. Averaging 9.9 minutes; 12 pts v Linfield
10 Adam Harris So-1V 6-0 4.2/0.9 ast Fox Island, Wa. Gig Harbor grad 61% (27-44) 3-pointers
11 Aaron Bellessa* So-1V 6-2 2.0/2.9 ast Federal Way, Wa. Starter at point guard; 14-29 FG
20 Darrell Walker Sr-TR 6-0 6.5/3.3 ast Marysville, Wa. 26-61 3-pointers, 46%; 1.3 steals
21 Brannon Stone* Jr-2V 6-7 14.1/5.9 reb Oak Harbor, Wa. 35 3ptrs; 1.7 blks, 1.8 stls; 84% FT
22 Jesse Keely So-TR 6-7 2.2/1.8 reb Fircrest, Wa. Played in 18 games; 11-21 FG; 78% FT
23 Nick Johnson* Jr-2V 6-3 13.2/4.8 reb Burlington, Wa. Career-hi 24 pts v Tarleton St.; 59% 3-ptrs
30 Gene Woodard So-1V 6-4 4.7/2.2 reb Edmonds, Wa. Career-high 20 pts at Linfield; 60% FG
32 John Hubbard* Sr-1V 6-5 18.1/3.1 reb Inglewood, Ca. 46-126 3-ptrs (37%); 78% FT
34 Eric Sandrin* Jr-TR 6-10 14.0/6.6 reb Bothell, Wa. 58% FG, 0.9 blks; 10-25 3-ptrs
40 Daniel Sandrin So-TR 6-7 3.2/2.8 reb Bothell, Wa. Averaging 13.3 minutes; 5-6 3 ptrs
42 Chris Cohen Fr-RS 6-8 0.7/0.8 reb Saint Helens, Or. Played in 13 games; 4-8 FG
*projected starter
Coach: Ken Bone (SPU '83) 11th year (225-90/.714)