Complete Box Score

SEATTLE (Feb. 24) -- John Hubbard and Nick Johnson scored 20 points apiece as 24th-ranked Seattle Pacific University all but clinched a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs by grinding out its ninth straight victory, 73-58 over Western Oregon in a Pacific West Conference game at Brougham Pavilion Saturday night.

Hubbard (Sr., 6-5, Inglewood, Ca.) scored all of his points in the first half and Johnson (Jr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa.) got 14 of his in the second period as the Falcons (14-3, 21-4) avenged an earlier loss to the Wolves (8-9, 10-16).

Seattle Pacific can still win the PacWest title by defeating Western Washington at home in the final game of the regular season next Saturday. The Vikings (15-2, 23-3) defeated Humboldt State 100-85. The Falcons hold the tiebreaker over Western if the two teams finish with identical PacWest records.

Jay Glover topped Western Oregon with 16 points before fouling out with 78 seconds left. Robert Day added 13.

Seattle Pacific held the Wolves to 30 percent shooting (17-57) and their lowest total in 17 conference games.

Johnson, who also grabbed nine rebounds, scored seven of his points during a 13-1 run midway through the second period which gave SPU a 55-41 cushion. He drove hard to the hoop for two of the first three baskets and then capped the outburst with a 3-pointer from the left angle. The Wolves got no closer than seven the rest of the way.

Hubbard shot SPU out of a sluggish start by hitting 8 of his first 11 shots, including 4 of 5 3-pointers. The Falcons, who trailed by seven points early, went in front 21-17 with Hubbard 12 of the points during a 14-3 run. His trey from the top of the key made it 35-29 at intermission.

Brannon Stone (Jr., 6-9, Oak Harbor, Wa.) and Gene Woodard (So., 6-4, Edmonds, Wa./O'Dea) each had eight points. Stone finished with nine boards, three steals and two blocked shots.

WESTERN OREGON --
Glover 16, Moehring 10, Clark 6, Drennan 2, Day 13, Bahler 3, Broderick-Kartye 3, Moore 0, Rothenberger 3, Gambee 0, Shore 2.

SEATTLE PACIFIC --
Stone 8, Hubbard 20, E. Sandrin 2, Bellessa 2, Johnson 20, Fox 0, Harris 0, Walker 5, Keely 4, Woodard 8, D. Sandrin 4.

Halftime--SPU 35, WOU 29.