Complete Box Score

SEATTLE (Feb. 17) -- Nick Johnson's two free throws with 35 seconds remaining lifted Seattle Pacific University to its seventh straight win, 83-82 in overtime over Central Washington, giving the Falcons their first regular season sweep of the Wildcats in 33 years.

Central Washington, which trailed by as much as 12 in the second period, sent the Pacific West Conference game to an extra period on a 3-pointer by Brandon Rinta with 34 seconds left in regulation, and had a chance to win it with 3 seconds to go in overtime but Justin Bursch's off-balance 17-footer from the left baseline missed short.

Brannon Stone (Jr., 6-7, Oak Harbor, Wa.), who led SPU with 28 points, grabbed his 10th rebound just before the buzzer to seal the victory, the Falcons' (12-3, 19-4) 11th in the last 12 games.

Stone, coming off a career-high 30 points in Thursday's win over Saint Martin's, hit 9 of 17 shots, including 6 of 8 treys. He also had three blocked shots, four assists and four steals. Johnson (Jr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa.) and John Hubbard (Sr., 6-5, Inglewood, Ca.) added 16 points apiece.

The Wildcats (9-6, 14-9) were paced by Justin Thompson's 27 points, including a driving 5-footer which gave his team their final lead, 82-80, with 48 seconds to go. Thompson scored 16 of his points after halftime and also snared nine rebounds.

Following an SPU timeout, Johnson got the ball at the top, whirled and drove down the left of the lane where he was inadvertently tripped by Bursch. The first foul shot rattled around and dropped and the second swished cleanly.

SPU led by 10 at the break and by 12 early in the second period before Central retaliated with a 15-3 run to tie it at 54-all on Thompson's runner.

The Falcons got a pair of 3-pointers from Stone on the left side to move back in front, 70-61 with 8 minutes left. The Wildcats' Damien Chapman sparked one last rally leading to Rinta's wide-open 20 footer.

Chapman finished with 18 points, 15 in the second half. He made four 3-pointers.

SPU, after shooting 60 percent in the first half, finished at 44 percent (27-62) while Central made 42 percent (30-72).

The Falcons first charged in front midway through the first period, reeling off 10 unanswered points for a 23-14 advantage. Stone began the barrage with back-to-back treys. Gene Woodard cut backdoor for a layup on the next possession and Daniel Sandrin capped the run and a fastbreak with a basket.

The Falcons resume their five-game homestand Thursday night, hosting Humboldt State at 7.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON
Thompson 27, Rinta 13, McDonald 10, Bursch 8, Chapman 18, Ladd 3, Nealey 0, Moore 0, Mitchell 0, Felker 3, Townsan 0, Littleton 0.

SEATTLE PACIFIC
Stone 28, Hubbard 16, E. Sandrin 5, Bellessa 7, Johnson 16, Harris 0, Walker 5, Keely 2, Woodard 2, D. Sandrin 2.

Halftime--SPU 45, CWU 35. Regulation--SPU 78, CWU 78.