Two and in? It's the basic equation: one plus one. And if Seattle Pacific University can come up with the sum-two victories-the Falcons will likely receive a passing grade for the NCAA tournament. Going into this, the final week of the regular season, SPU (11-5, 15-10) has a chance to make the playoffs for the sixth year in a row and an opportunity to grab a share of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship, should it prevail in home games against Saint Martin's (2-14, 2-24) Thursday (Mar. 6) and Central Washington (9-7, 15-10) Saturday (Mar. 8). The 64-team bracket for Division II will be announced Mar. 10 with the West Regional to take place Mar. 14, 15 and 17.

Madness around the corner. No first-year Seattle Pacific coach has ever taken his team to the playoffs, but Jeff Hironaka has his team in a position to do just that. The Falcons were No. 7 in the West last week and figure to be at least that high again going into these final games. By finishing among the top eight they will earn a trip to the regional tournament, likely to take place in San Bernardino. SPU has gone to the NCAA tournament each of the last five seasons; no other team in the West and only four others in Div. II can claim that distinction. Overall, Seattle Pacific has made 15 trips to the NCAA playoffs, including eight in the last nine years. If it wins twice and should Humboldt State lose at Western Oregon, SPU could claim a share of the GNAC crown.

Encore performance. Today, a postseason berth appears within reach. Two months ago, the Falcons were grasping for a lifeline. They had lost five of six (including two at home) and stood at 6-6-the worst start in 14 years. Since then, Hironaka has tweaked the offense, the seniors have stepped forward and there's a newfound confidence. Seattle Pacific has won nine of 13 (six straight in Brougham Pavilion) while shooting 52 percent from the field over that span. It is 9-0 when holding teams under 80 points in regulation.

A six-pack to go. Saturday will be Senior Night but Hironaka will not start them all, lest he earn his first 'T.' Numbering six in all, the senior class simply cannot be squeezed into the starting five. Getting last call at the pavilion will be fifth-year senior Adam Harris (Sr., 6-0, Fox Island, Wa./Gig Harbor), four-year letterman Gene Woodard (Sr., 6-4, Edmonds, Wa./O'Dea), three-year lettermen Jesse Keely (Sr., 6-7, Fircrest, Wa./Bellarmine) and Daniel Sandrin (Sr., 6-7, Bothell, Wa./Bothell), and two-year squad members Yusef Aziz (Sr., 6-4, Seattle, Wa./Foster) and Maurice Cato (Sr., 6-0, Fairfield, Ca.). Harris, the GNAC leader in three-point shoting, and Woodard, coming off a season-high 19 points in the vital 84-70 road victory at Seattle U., are the lone holdovers from the Final Four team of 2000. Keely and Sandrin, both transfers from Portland, have combined to average 15.7 points and 7.4 rebounds at forward. Cato leads the team in treys (39) and free throw accuracy (.803), and is No. 2 in assists (3.1), steals (1.5) and scoring (11.2).

Yu da man. Despite a concussion in December, a tender ankle since January and an awful lot of attention from opposing defenses, Aziz is enjoying a uniquely successful senior campaign. Aziz is bidding to become only the second Falcon (and first in 15 years) to lead the team in both scoring (17.7) and assists (3.4). The only player in the GNAC to rank among the leaders in both categories, he's considered a strong candidate for all-conference and all-region honors for the second year in a row. His two-year total of 913 points is second only to Glenn Stump's 965 (1983-85) for an SPU junior transfer.

Behold, the future. This year's team has Aziz stamped all over it. But beyond this season, the Falcons could well revolve around up-and-coming center Jason Chivers (So., 6-8, Palmdale, Ca./Highland-L.A. Trade Tech). The former baseball pitching prospect has come on strong late in this, his second full season of organized basketball. He posted his fourth double-double of the year at SU (12 points, 12 rebounds). In the last 10 games he's averaged 13.6 points (reaching double figures nine times), 7.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and shot 64 percent from the field.

Put-backs. Unlike past years, the NCAA bracket will be announced on a Monday (Mar. 10), beginning at 10 a.m. PST...Both Harris and Cato are on course to finish their careers among the leaders in free throw shooting (.824 and .821, respectively). Harris is currently No. 2 in three-point accuracy (.484)...So far this season, GNAC home teams have won only one of five senior nights...Of the top 10 regionally ranked teams, only Cal State San Bernardino, Cal Poly Pomona (both with two wins) and BYU Hawaii (one) emerged unbeaten last week. Seattle Pacific, which rejoined the region's top eight at No. 7, might even gain ground due to two home losses by No. 4 Sonoma State...SPU is now 14-1 when leading or tied at halftime and 14-2 when shooting at least 49 percent from the field...The highest win total for a first-year SPU coach is 17 by Ken Bone in 1990-91...Jeff Knudson (Fr., 6-7, Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak) has hit 10 of 16 treys in his last two home games...Chivers had 12 offensive boards in his last two games and could become the first season rebounding leader to finish with more than half of his total on the offensive end...Woodard has scored in double figures four ofthe last six games, averaging 10.2...Since Feb. 8, SPU has converted 76 percent of its free throws...Seattle Pacific is No. 1 in both GNAC 3-point (.403) and overall (.497) field goal accuracy. Those figures rank ninth and 10th, respectively, in the NCAA. In conference games, the Falcons are averaging a league-best 84.4 points and shooting 52 percent from the floor. Individually, Harris is the GNAC co-leader in three-point accuracy (.500/35-70) while Knudson is No. 3 (.462/30-65). Aziz ranks among the conference leaders in scoring (17.7/No. 6), steals (1.52/No. 9), rebounding (6.0/No. 9) and assists (3.4/No. 8). Chivers is No. 2 in field-goal percentage (.576), No. 7 in rebounding (6.7) and No. 8 in blocks (0.88). Cato is No. 8 in steals (1.54).

Tickets, please. Reserved tickets for all SPU home games are priced $7 and $6. General admission is $5 with youth, students and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Groups can qualify for discounts by calling (206) 281-2085 in advance.

SPU Coaches. The longest-serving assistant in program history, Jeff Hironaka was selected to succeed Ken Bone as head coach Apr. 30, 2002. A former aide at Idaho State and The Master's, Hironaka joined Bone in 1991 and from there the Falcons won 236 of 253 games, claimed five outright or shared conference championships and qualified for the NCAA tournament eight of the last nine years, including a Final Four advancement in 2000. Hironaka is the second Japanese-American head coach of a four-year collegiate program. Keith Cooper, an alumnus of Seattle Pacific, is the staff's top assistant. Cooper previously was an assistant at Central Washington. and Pacific Lutheran, and head coach at Federal Way's Decatur High School. George Parker who first served as an assistant in 1986, returns for his 14th year on the staff. Others who are new to the staff are Rich King, former Nebraska and Seattle SuperSonics center, and Michael Johnson, an all-state selection from nearby Ballard and four-year letterman at Washington.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.