10th annual classic. Sometimes the first games are the toughest and the Seattle Pacific University men's basketball team wishes to put that bugaboo behind them this weekend when it hosts the 10th annual Vitamilk Tip-Off Classic. The Falcons, ranked 16th in the NCAA Division II preseason poll and coming off their seventh playoff appearance in the last eight years, are looking to win their first home opener in three years Friday (Nov. 16) when they face Indianapolis (13-14 in 2000-01). Saturday (Nov. 17) the tournament concludes with SPU playing Lock Haven, Pa., (11-15). Northwest Nazarene completes the field. The only game during Thanksgiving week will be a nonconference contest at Seattle University Nov. 24.

Tournament for openers. Seattle Pacific has won 79 percent of its games the past three seasons, but Brougham Pavilion has proven to be a particularly intimidating environment for opponents. The Falcons are 78-8 at home under Coach Ken Bone since 1996-97, including a 40-3 record in conference play. However, the past two seasons have begun with losses in season-opening games at Brougham. Those are the only losses for the Falcons at the Vitamilk Tip-Off Classic; their overall record in the tournament's first nine years is 16-2. They had won eight consecutive openers from 1991-98.

Positive preseason. The two preseason outings provided Bone an opportunity to shuffle lineups and play all 12 active players. The Falcons used an array of defensive traps to help offset subpar shooting and pull away from both The Son's Blue Angels (86-67) and the Northwest All-Stars (90-68) in a pair of home exhibitions. SPU held both teams to 40 percent shooting but the most impressive statistic was rebounding, where it finished with a combined plus-37, including a plus-17 on the offensive boards.

Flashes from the past. Individually, fans saw flashes of brilliance from their proven returnees. Brannon Stone (Sr., 6-9, Oak Harbor, Wa.), a preseason All-America forward, was the team's top overall scorer with 25 points (9-18 FGs) and also had 16 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Returning to his productive early-season form of a year ago was center Eric Sandrin (Sr., 6-10, Bothell, Wa./Shorecrest-Portland), whose double-double of 11 points and 12 boards in the first game included some monster dunks. Their respective understudies, Daniel Sandrin (Jr., 6-7, Bothell, Wa./Bothell-Portland) and Jesse Keely (Jr., 6-7, Fircrest, Wa./Bellarmine-Portland), proved just as effective. Keely totaled 15 points and 16 rebounds (10 offensive) while Daniel Sandrin scored 18 points and connected on 3-4 treys.

It takes two. Bone may not have recruited or developed a replacement for last year's top gun, John Hubbard (19.2), but together transfer Gene Woodard (Jr., 6-4, Edmonds, Wa./O'Dea) and Yusef Aziz (Jr., 6-4, Seattle, Wa./Foster-Highline CC) were more than equal to the task. Woodard's 14 points in 16 minutes led the way vs. the Blue Angels while Aziz responded with 14 and 10 rebounds against the All-Stars. Together the pair averaged 21.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals and shot 47 percent.

Backcourt coming along. The guard play was predictably somewhat ragged in the preseason yet improved with each period. Nick Johnson (Sr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa./Burlington-Edison), after going 1-7 from the field in the opener, nailed two 3-pointers, snared five boards and generally was his old self in the second game. Bone gave redshirt Jordan Lee (Fr., 6-0, University Place, Wa./Life Christian) a total of 40 minutes of court time and Lee looked for his shot and sank 7-16, mostly from the perimeter, including three from outside the arc. Aaron Bellessa (So., 6-2, Federal Way, Wa./Decatur) started both games at the point but Maurice Cato (Jr., 6-0, Fairfield, Ca./Fairfield-Skyline JC) played the majority of minutes. Despite facing more pressure in the second exhibition, their combined turnovers went from five to only two. Cato also stroked a pair of treys.

Put-backs. Bone expects to sign at least one recruit to an early letter of intent this week...The team shot just 42 percent from the field but did convert 86 percent of tis free throws. They also finished strong, outscoring the two foes by a combined 29 points in the second period...Chris Cohen (So., 6-8, Saint Helens, Or./Saint Helens), the team's third post player, contributed six rebounds and five points vs. the All-Stars...Adam Harris (Jr., 6-0, Fox Island, Wa./Gig Harbor) missed both games with a hand injury and is not expected back until next month.

Opponent & series notes. The Falcons are looking for their first win in a season-opener since 1998-99. They fell at home to Lynn (Fl.) in 1999 and Cal State San Bernardino a year ago, both at home...Indianapolis is coming off a 13-14 record but the Greyhounds defeated Indiana State 57-51 in an overtime preseason game last week. Cedric Moodie, a 6-2 transfer from Ball State, scored 25 points in that game...Lock Haven was 11-15 a year ago. The Bald Eagles lost only four seniors yet three were starters who averaged between 10-17 points per game...This will be Seattle Pacific's first meeting with either team.

Tickets, please. Reserved ticket prices for all SPU home games are priced at $7 and $6. General admission prices are $5 with students, youth and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Teams or groups can qualify for discount rates by call (206) 281-2085 in advance.

SPU Coaches. In his 11 years as coach of his alma mater, Ken Bone has directed the Falcons to seven NCAA tournament berths, five conference titles and 11 consecutive winning records. His winning percentage of .712 is the best in school history, surpassing even the legendary Les Habegger. From 1995-2000 Bone's teams advanced to the regional championship game five times, including a record 27 wins and Final Four appearance in 2000. Jeff Hironaka is in his 11th year as associate head coach. Jarrett Mentink returns to the staff after a four-year absence this season. George Parker who first served as an assistant in 1986, returns for his 13th year on the staff. Former all-conference forward Reggie Paul joins the staff after five seasons of playing professionally in Europe and Asia.