Let’s try it again. If there’s engine trouble, then it’s going to be solved on the roadside this holiday season because Seattle Pacific University’s next seven men’s basketball games are all on the road. The Falcons (1-1) leave Thanksgiving Day for Chico, Ca., and the 44th annual Mac Martin Classic. There they will face host Chico State (1-0) Friday night (Nov. 28) and Colorado School of Mines (1-1) Saturday (Nov. 29). From there it’s about 1,700 air miles to Anchorage, where they begin Great Northwest Athletic Conference action Dec. 4.

On the road again. It’s a great time to be a travel agent for Seattle Pacific, as they bounce between Chico, Alaska, San Diego and Las Vegas before landing at SeaTac Airport just before Christmas. The seven straight road games is the longest such stretch in 14 years. However, it could be just what the squad needs right now. If the September tour of Australia was any indication, absence makes the team get better. The Falcons went 3-2 on that trip and several key players asserted themselves, particularly on the offensive end of the court. Down Under, an undermanned team averaged 101.6 points while in the first two regular season games they managed just 69.0 per game.

Missing numbers. Coach Jeff Hironaka has said that his squad’s formula for success this season, statistically speaking, is rather simple. Center Jason Chivers (Jr., 6-8, Los Angeles, Ca./Highland-L.A. Trade Tech) must deliver a double-double and the perimeter shooters must hit consistently. Neither was the case on the opening weekend of the season when SPU managed a split in two games at the Wilcox Farms Tip-Off Classic. It came close in the first game, a 78-51 victory over Saint Leo (Fl.). Chivers had 13 rebounds and eight points and the Falcons shot 9-23 outside the arc. But against Southwest Baptist, the big guy, who had averaged 22.4 points and 13.7 rebounds in Australia and the preseason, totaled just six points and six boards and the long bombers went bust (3-16).

The good news. On the other hand, there were signs of encouragement and improvement. Turnovers and defense were areas of concern coming into the season but the team fought hard on the defensive end, allowing just 38 percent shooting and forcing 37 turnovers. Point guard Tony Binetti (So., 6-1, Enumclaw, Wa.) played with far greater confidence and control, committing just one turnover in a combined 63 minutes while passing for 13 assists, many in the transition offense. Binetti’s backcourt partner, Ralph Steele (Jr., 6-2, No. Birmingham, Al./Huffman-Citrus JC), emerged as the most consistent scorer, totaling 25 points, including a team-high 16 on opening night. Chris Cohen (Sr., 6-8, Saint Helens, Or.) was solid in relief of Chivers, with 16 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes.

And another thing or two. Seattle Pacific need not press any panic buttons. After all, it came within six points of going 2-0 for only the second time in five years, and the 1-1 starts all led to NCAA tournament appearances four months later. If anything, the first weekend was full of aberrations: Chivers shooting 7-23 after leading the GNAC in field-goal accuracy as a sophomore; Jeff Knudson (so., 6-7, Mukilteo, Wa./Kamiak) squeezing off just three treys in nine attempts after shooting 50 percent as a frosh; and Dustin Bremerman (Fr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) going 1-5 from three-point range. Furthermore, Jordan Lee (Jr., 6-2, University Place, Wa./Christian Faith), who averaged 23.2 points in Australia, figures to get stronger as he recovers from an ankle sprain which bumped him from the starting lineup.

Put-backs. Mike Bushmaker (So., 6-7, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) led the team with a career-high 12 points and six rebounds vs. Southwest Baptist. In the first outing, Chad Williams (So., 6-8, Burlington, Wa./Bu.-Edison-Whatcom CC) had come off the bench for 11 points, hitting all four of his field goals, including three three-pointers...Chivers, who did have five assists and four blocks plus the career-best baker’s dozen boards vs. Saint Leo, made the all-tournament team along with Steele...Austin Yuen (Fr., 5-8, Mercer Island, Wa.) was taken off the redshirt list last week and played in the first game. Also making their collegiate debuts were Tim Gabelein (Fr., 6-6, Langley, Wa./South Whidbey) and Drew Matzen (Fr., 6-4, Bothell, Wa./Lynnwood)...The Falcons rallied from nine points down in the second half against Southwest Baptist to tie the game going into the final minute. A three-pointer with 20 seconds left was the decisive shot and the Bearcats hit 9-19 outside the arc...The 60 points was the lowest output by an SPU team in 102 games.

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 Coaching Staff. In his first season Jeff Hironaka won more games (16) than all but one other first-year SPU coach. A former aide at Idaho State and The Master’s, Hironaka became Ken Bone’s top assistant 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 times, including a Final Four advancement in 2000. Hironaka is the second Japanese-American head coach of a four-year collegiate program...As both coach and player, Ben Scheffler has been associated with seven NCAA tournament teams. The staff’s top assistant, Scheffler started three seasons at guard and later served on Bone’s staff from 1998-01. He was a volunteer assistant at Washington in 2001-02. Scott Reid joins the staff following two years as KingCo coach of the year at Bellevue’s Newport High School. George Parker who first served as a volunteer assistant in 1986, returns for his 15th year. Dan Barfoot serves as graduate assistant and Maurice Cato, starting point guard the past two years, is student assistant.

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.