BELLINGHAM (Feb. 16) -- Jacob Stevenson sparked Western Washington with 23 points and seven assists as No. 7-ranked Seattle Pacific University became the Vikings' 18th straight home conference victim, 88-80 at Carver Gym Saturday night.

It was Western's (11-3, 17-6) 10th straight home victory this season and it has not lost a home conference game since falling to SPU (12-2, 20-3) two years ago. The Falcons, who were led by Brannon Stone's 16 points, had their five-game win streak snapped. Seattle Pacific

SPU sliced a 17-point deficit to 81-78 on three-point play by Yusef Aziz (Jr., 6-4, Seattle, Wa./Foster-Highline CC), followed by another Aziz free throw with 30 seconds left. But the Vikings responded with four foul shots by Darnell Taylor and two by Brian Dennis to prevail.

The Falcons built leads of 10 and 11 points in the first half only to see them erased by Vikings. Western seized momentum by scoring the final 10 points of the period, closing to 34-33.

Stone (Sr., 6-9, Oak Harbor, Wa.) hit all four of his treys and scored 14 first-half points. SPU made six of 14 outside the arc in the opening period but missed its first eight of the second and finished 1-12. It shot just 36 percent from the field (10-28) in the second half.

After Stevenson connected on a right-wing 3-pointer to open the second half, Western Washington never trailed. He scored nine points and set-up four other baskets as the Vikings moved out to a 56-44 advantage in the first 9:15.

Western hit 59 percent from the floor in the second half and finished with a 34-29 edge in rebounds. SPU offset poor shooting (40 percent) by making 29-35 free throws.

Aziz totaled 15 points and 11 rebounds while Eric Sandrin (Sr., 6-10, Bothell, Wa./Shorecrest) had 14 points before fouling out, one of three SPU players and two Vikings to do so.

SPU completes its stretch of five consecutive road games next week in Alaska, beginning Thursday in Anchorage.

SEATTLE PACIFIC WA (20-3, 12-2)-- Stone 5-8 2-2 16; Aziz 4-12 7-9 15; E. Sandrin 4-6 6-7 14; Johnson 3-8 4-4 10; Cato 2-9 3-4 8; D. Sandrin 2-4 1-2 6; Woodard 1-2 4-5 6; Harris 1-2 2-2 5; Keely 0-2 0-0 0; Lee 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-55 29-35 80.

WESTERN WASHINGTON (17-6, 11-3) -- Stevenson 7-17 7-10 23; Palm 7-11 4-4 18; Diggs 3-8 4-4 12; Dennis 5-7 2-2 12; Taylor 0-2 6-6 6; Campbell 2-2 0-0 5; Burrell 1-2 2-3 4; Tyree 2-7 0-2 4; Giesa 2-7 0-0 4. Totals 29-63 25-31 88.

Halftime--SPU 34, WWU 33. 3-point goals-SPU 7-26 (Stone 4-7; Cato 1-6; D. Sandrin 1-3; Harris 1-2; Lee 0-1; Johnson 0-4; E. Sandrin 0-1; Aziz 0-2), WWU 5-13 (Stevenson 2-5; Diggs 2-3; Campbell 1-1; Taylor 0-1; Burrell 0-1; A.J. Giesa 0-2). Fouled out--Johnson, E Sandrin, Stevenson, Diggs. Rebounds-SPU 29 ( Aziz 11), WWU 34 (Palm 8). Assists-SPU 12 (E. Sandrin 3; D. Sandrin 3), WWU 15 (Stevenson 7). Total fouls-SPU 25, WWU 26. A-2222