Falcon Men Win Another Close One, 86-84; Stay in Playoff Race
February 22, 2003

SEATTLE (Feb. 22) - Jeff Knudson came off the bench for a season-high 16 points and Maurice Cato sank the deciding two free throws with 7 seconds left to lift Seattle Pacific University over Western Oregon, 86-84, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference game at Brougham Pavilion Saturday night.

The Wolves (5-10, 12-12), who trailed by 13 with less than 10 minutes to go, rallied to tie the game on Kevin Tyner's top-of-the key three-pointer with 9 seconds left but then Bradley Bahler fouled Cato on the ensuring inbounds play, resulting in the free throws.

Tyner launched another trey attempt but it hit the front rim just before the buzzer. Seattle Pacific has now won eight of its last 11 games.

Jesse Keely (Sr., 6-7, Fircrest, Wa./Bellarmine) also had 16 points-10 in the second half-for Seattle Pacific (10-4, 14-9), which kept its postseason hopes alive with four regular season games remaining.

SPU took the lead midway through the first period, led by nine at halftime and was ahead 65-52 with 9:40 left. Tyner and teammate Robert Day, who scored 32 points, spearheaded a late rally by the Wolves. Tyner scored 14 of his 23 points in the final 3:12.

Keely, who snared seven rebounds, made all 10 of his free throws and Cato (Sr., 6-0, Fairfield, Ca.), who finished with 13 points, was 7-8 from the line. Knudson (fr., 6-7, Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak) connected on 4-6 treys Yusef Aziz (Sr., 6-4, Seattle, Wa./Foster) totaled 15 points and six rebounds.

Both teams shot 52 percent from the floor. The Falcons outscored the visitors 26-12 in free throws.

Western Oregon charged out of the starting gate, taking a nine-point lead before the Falcons caught fire. A Day trey put the Wolves in front 16-7 but SPU then responded with a 21-3 charge which featured five three-pointers, including two each by Cato and Knudson.

Day connected on five first-half treys and scored 19 points but Seattle Pacific went into the break with a 43-34 lead, thanks to 53-percent shooting.

SPU visits Northwest Nazarene Thursday night and Seattle University next Saturday before retuning home for the final two regular season games.

WESTERN OREGON - Tyner 23, Summers 8, Broderick-Kartye 6, Day 32, Kelly 13, Brown 0, Bahler 0, Turner 0, Dixon 2, Olson 0.

SEATTLE PACIFIC - Cato 13, Harris 6, Aziz 15, Chivers 3, Sandrin 10, Binetti 4, Knudson 16, Keely 16, Woodard 3.

Halftime-SPU 43, WOU 34.