Griffons' 1-2 Punch Too Much for Falcons
December 16, 2002

SAN ANTONIO (Dec. 16) -- Clutch foul shooting down the stretch enabled Missouri Western State to deny a comeback by Seattle Pacific University as the Falcons absorbed their second men's basketball defeat of the season, 70-65, in the first round of the River City Shootout Monday night at Greehey Arena.

Larry Taylor and Damon Bailey of the Griffons (6-1) combined for 45 points and hit 21 of 25 free throws. Bailey, a 6-foot-5 junior, grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds to go with his 21 points. Taylor, a 6-foot senior, was 12-16 at the line and had seven boards plus four assists.

Seattle Pacific (5-2), which was paced by the 17 points of Yusef Aziz (Sr., 6-4, Seattle, Wa./Foster), erased a nine-point halftime deficit with a run of 10 unanswered points, tying the game at 47 with 12:33 remaining. But Missouri Western responded a 5-0 burst and retained the lead by hitting 7 of its final 10 foul shots and going 23 of 31 overall.

The Falcons, on the other hand, missed 11 of 30 at the line. They held the Griffons to just 40 percent shooting from the field but were out-rebounded 32-28 and committed two more turnovers (18).

Maurice Cato (Sr., 6-0, Fairfield, Ca.) added 12 points and Adam Harris (Sr., 6-0, Fox Island, Wa./Gig Harbor) 10. Each hit a couple three-pointers.

Aziz was 6-13 from the floor, 5-5 on free throws and had four assists.

The Falcons rallied in the second half, shooting 11-23 from the field while MWSC went just 6-20. It was the second time this season that Seattle Pacific was held under 70 points and both resulted in losses. SPU faces unbeatenPittsburg State (Ks.) in the second round of the tournament Tuesday before visiting Nevada Thursday night.

SEATTLE PACIFIC -- Cato 12, Harris 10, Aziz 17, Chivers 5, Sandrin 7, Lee 6, Bushmaker 0, Binetti 2, Knudson 2, Keely 4, Woodard 0.

MISSOURI WESTERN -- Chapman 6, Davis 4, Taylor 24, Mitchell 8, Bailey 21, Mason 0, Stevenson 0, Grove 2, Grace 5.