SEATTLE (Mar. 2) -- Maurice Cato connected on an off-balance three-pointer at the buzzer to lift 9th-ranked Seattle Pacific University to an 81-78 victory over No. 5 Humboldt State for a share of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship Saturday night at Brougham Pavilion.

Yusef Aziz (Jr., 6-4, Seattle, Wa./Foster-Highline CC) led Seattle Pacific with 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Falcons (15-3, 23-4) finished in a three-way tie for the GNAC title with Humboldt (15-3, 24-3) and Western Washington (15-3, 21-6).All three appear bound for the NCAA Division II tournament which begins Thursday. Playoff brackets and the site of the West Regional will be announced Sunday night (Mar. 3).

The Falcons trailed 78-76 with the Lumberjacks' Fred Hooks at the foul line for two shots with 36 seconds left, but Hooks missed both shots and Nick Johnson (Sr., 6-3, Burlington, Wa./Burlington-Edison) knifed inside for the tying bucket.

Mark White's 15-footer from the right side missed for HSU with about 5 seconds left, Brannon Stone (Sr., 6-9, Oak Harbor, Wa.) snatched the rebound, threw the outlet to Aziz who relayed it to Cato on the left side for a 22-footer that swished as time expired and the crowd rushed the court.

Hooks topped the Lumberjacks with 16 points but Austin Nichols, the leading scorer in the conference at more than 20 points per game, finished with just four points before fouling out with 5:51 left. Humboldt State dropped its final two regular season games after coming into the week on a 10-game win streak.

Johnson added 15 points, Daniel Sandrin (Jr., 6-7, Bothell, Wa./Bothell) 13 and Cato 11, nine coming off three three-pointers.

Seattle Pacific led by as much as seven in the second half but trailed for the final 6:14 until Cato's trey. Aziz snared eight of his rebounds off the offensive boards and scored 13 of his points in the second half. He was 9-11 at the line.

The Falcons lead the GNAC in free throw accuracy but missed nine of 22 while Humboldt was 16-21 but missed three of four in the final minute. Both team shot well, SPU making 53 percent from the field and the 'Jacks 54 percent. Seattle Pacific finished with a 32-24 advantage in rebounds.

Although the Falcons started fast, they were fortunate to hold a slim lead at the half. SPU jumped on top 14-5 in the first five minutes, thanks to Sandrin hitting his first three field goals.

But the Lumberjacks responded later in the half with an 9-0 run, going in front 29-24. A 3-pointer from the top of the key by Cato followed by two Aziz free throws pushed Seattle Pacific back in front, 36-35.

HUMBOLDT STATE -- Nichols 1-5 2-2 4, Hooks 6-12 4-7 16, Cutler 4-5 1-1 9, White 3-9 0-0 8, Gildea 3-4 3-3 12, Robinson 4-7 1-2 10, Kaatz 2-3 1-2 6, Hungerford 0-0 0-0 0, Shannon 3-3 4-4 13. Totals 26-48 16-21 78.

SEATTLE PACIFIC -- Aziz 6-12 9-11 21, Stone 1-5 0-0 3, D. Sandrin 5-6 3-6 13, Cato 4-10 0-0 11, Johnson 6-13 1-2 15, Lee 0-1 0-1 0, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Bellessa 0-0 0-0 0, Keely 4-5 0-0 8, Woodard 5-6 0-2 10, Cohen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-58 13-22 81.

Halftime--SPU 36, HSU 35. 3-Point goals--HSU 10-17 (Shannon 3, Gildea 3, White 2, Robinson, Kaatz), SPU 6-17 (Cato 3, Johnson 2, Stone). Fouled out--Nichols. Rebounds--HSU 24 (Hooks 6), SPU 32 (Aziz 11). Assists--HSU 16 (Robinson 5), SPU 19 (Stone 7). Total fouls--HSU 18, SPU 17.