SPU Men Close In on Playoff Berth with 96-61 Win
March 6, 2003

SEATTLE (Mar. 6) - Jeff Knudson came off the bench to score 11 of his 14 points in the second half as Seattle Pacific University strengthened its postseason chances by overpowering Saint Martin's 96-61 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball game Thursday night at Brougham Pavilion.

SPU, which has now won four of its last five, can earn its sixth straight trip to the NCAA Division II tournament with a win in its final regular season game, Saturday night against Central Washington at the pavilion. Also, a victory coupled with a Western Oregon win over Humboldt State would give the Falcons (12-5, 16-10) a share of the GNAC title.

Knudson (Fr., 6-7, Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak) stroked four three-pointers in five attempts and overall Seattle Pacific converted 10-17 outside the arc. Yusef Aziz (Sr., 6-4, Seattle, Wa./Foster) and Jason Chivers (So., 6-8, Palmdale, Ca.) each added 13 points.

The Saints (2-15, 2-25), whose brief two-game win streak was snapped, were paced by the 14 points of Brandon Hartley.

Initially slowed by the Saints' zone, the Falcons began to break open the game with three-pointers late in the opening period. They connected on 6-8 outside the arc, including two by Jordan Lee (So., 6-2, University Place, Wa./Christian Faith), and got another three-point play when Adam Harris (Sr., 6-0, Fox Island, Wa./Gig Harbor) was fouled on an attempt. Harris converted all of his free throws, giving SPU its largest lead of the first period at 41-29.

Seattle Pacific started the second half where the first ended, going on a 22-9 run which was punctuated by a pair of Knudson 22-footers from the top of the key for a 66-42 advantage. Saint Martin's, which has lost 20 of the last 21 meetings, got no closer than 20 the rest of the way.

Lee finished with 12 points, his highest total since opening night. The SPU reserves accounted for 52 points.

The Falcons committed a season-low seven turnovers, hit 22 of 25 foul shots and out-rebounded the Saints 43-34. Chivers had eight boards.

Saint Martin's shot just 34 percent in the second half.

SEATTLE PACIFIC 96, ST. MARTIN'S 61

ST. MARTIN'S - Satovich 3-5 0-0 6, Gruhler 0-1 0-0 0, Gibbs 4-12 1-4 9, Hartley 5-10 3-4 14, Clark 1-7 2-2 4, Daniels 1-2 0-0 2, Preston 0-2 0-0 0, Chirhart 0-3 0-0 0, Everson 4-9 0-0 9, Barnes 1-2 1-2 4, Perry 6-10 0-1 13. Totals 25-63 7-13 61.

SEATTLE PACIFIC - Aziz 4-9 5-5 13, Sandrin 3-9 2-2 8, Chivers 6-8 1-2 13, Cato 2-4 0-0 5, Harris 1-3 3-3 5, Lee 4-7 2-2 12, Bushmaker 0-1 4-4 4, Binetti 2-3 1-2 6, Knudson 4-5 2-2 14, Keely 2-5 1-2 7, Woodard 3-9 1-1 7, Cohen 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 32-67 22-25 96.

Halftime-SPU 41, SMC 31. 3-Point Goals-SMC 4-17 (Hartley, Barnes, Perry, Everson), SPU 10-17 (Knudson 4, Lee 2, Keely 2, Cato, Binetti). Rebounds-SMC 34 (Perry 7), SPU 43 (Chivers 8). Assists-SMC 14 (Gruhler 6), SPU 18 (Cato 6). Total fouls-SMC 18, SPU 18. Fouled out-none. A-885.