Chico State Repels SPU Comebacks, Men Win 93-91
November 28, 2003

Complete Box Score

CHICO, Calif. (Nov. 28) -- Andy Butcher scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half as Chico State repelled several comebacks by Seattle Pacific to win 93-91 in the first round of the Mac Martin Classic at Acker Gym Friday night.

The Falcons (1-2) rallied from deficits of 10 points in each half, cut the Wildcats' lead to one point on a three-pointer by Chad Williams (So., 6-8, Burlington, Wa./B-E) with 7 seconds to go but never had a shot at tying or going ahead thereafter.

Jordan Lee (Jr., 6-2, Tacoma, Wa./Life Christian) scored a career-high 23 points for SPU, which was playing the first of seven straight road games -- the longest such stretch in 14 years. Dustin Bremerman (Fr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) added 16 points.

Jason Van Eck had 23 points and 10 rebounds for Chico State (2-0), which beat Seattle Pacific for the first time in 10 tries. Butcher was 4-7 behind the three-point stripe.

Seattle Pacific trailed by 10 in the first half before going on a 27-12 run. A jumper by Ralph Steele put the visitors in front 44-36 with 4:30 left in the period. It was their biggest lead of the game.

Chico State caught the Falcons by halftime and restored the lead to nine early in the second half on a trey by Butcher . SPU responded by reeling off nine straight points to tie the game before the Wildcats built the advantage to 82-72 on another three-pointer by Butcher.

Bremerman twice connected on treys as Seattle Pacific whittled the lead down to 90-88 with 1:21 remaining and then 92-91 on the Williams long jumper. Tim Haley hit one of two free throws for Chico for the final margin.

Seattle Pacific shot only 42 percent but made 11 three-pointers and 16-18 free throws. Chico State made 54 percent of its field goals but missed 14 of 31 at the foul line.

SPU meets Colorado School of Mines in the second round of the tournament Saturday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC -- Lee 23, Beede 0, Binetti 10, Bremerman 16, Chivers 2, Steele 12, Knudson 13, Bushmaker 2, Williams 3, Cohen 10.

CHICO STATE -- Faulstich 5, Van Eck 23, Butcher 18, Perak 11, Bonner 12, Hennegar 0, Haley 5, Carr 3, Webster 11, McCollum 3, Teague 2.

Halftime--CSC 47, SPU 46.