Western Oregon Comes Back to Hand SPU Rare Home League Loss, 80-74
January 8, 2004

SEATTLE (Jan. 8) – Kevin Tyner scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half and Robert Day poured in 28 as Western Oregon came from behind in the second half to deal Seattle Pacific University an 80-74 defeat Thursday night at Brougham Pavilion.

The Falcons (1-2, 5-7), who were paced by the 18 points and 14 rebounds of center Jason Chivers (Jr., 6-8, Los Angeles, Ca.), suffered only their sixth home conference loss in the last five years. It was their fourth loss in the last five games overall.

The Wolves (3-0, 9-3) trailed by 11 at halftime but took the lead with 12 minutes left and never relinquished it. Tyner, 6-foot sophomore, drove for layups on three consecutive possessions to put Western Oregon ahead 62-57 at the 10:22 mark. His two free throws with 30 seconds remaining gave the visitors their biggest lead at 78-69.

Seattle Pacific, following a torrid first-half shooting display, made only 1-12 three-pointers and shot 31 percent from the field in the second half, when Western Oregon outscored it 44-27.

Tyner, who also had nine assists, was 5-7 from the floor in the second period. Day, a 6-5 senior forward, was 11-20 from the floor, 9-13 in the opening half. WOU, which also got 15 points from Sean Kelly, converted 56 percent of its field goals (30-54).

It was the seventh straight double double for Chivers, who was the only consistent offensive threat for SPU. The rest of the team shot just 5-21 after intermission. Jordan Lee (Jr., 6-2, Tacoma, Wa./Life Christian) finished with 11 points.

The Falcons threatened to blow the game open with a late first-half burst. Three-pointers by Lee, Ralph Steele, Tony Binetti and Chad Williams highlighted a 15-2 run which put SPU in front 45-31. Seattle Pacific shot a sizzling 62 percent, including 7-13 treys, in the first period and only Day’s 19 points kept the Wolves in the contest.

SPU hosts No. 2-ranked Humboldt State Saturday night at 7.

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY 80, SEATTLE PACIFIC 74

WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY ((3-0) 9-3) Day,Robert 11-20 4-4 28; Tyner,Kevin 5-9 8-10 19; Kelly,Sean 6-8 0-0 15; Barnhart,Jeff 3-3 0-0 8; Kieling,Evan 4-10 0-0 8; Brautigam,Dave 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 30-54 12-14 80.

SEATTLE PACIFIC ((1-2) 5-7) Chivers,Jason 8-17 2-3 18; Lee,Jordan 5-13 0-0 11; Steele,Ralph 3-5 2-2 9; Bremerman,Dustin 3-5 1-2 8; Binetti,Tony 3-8 0-0 8; Knudson,Jeff 1-5 3-5 6; Williams,Chad 2-3 0-0 6; Bushmaker,Mike 2-2 0-2 4; Matzen,Drew 1-3 2-2 4. Totals 28-61 10-16 74.

Halftime—Seattle Pacific 47, Western Oregon 36. 3-point goals-Western Oregon University 8-24 (Kelly,Sean 3-5; Barnhart,Jeff 2-2; Day,Robert 2-9; Tyner,Kevin 1-4; Kieling,Evan 0-4), Seattle Pacific 8-25 (Williams,Chad 2-3; Binetti,Tony 2-4; Lee,Jordan 1-7; Steele,Ralph 1-1; Bremerman,Dustin 1-3; Knudson,Jeff 1-5; Matzen,Drew 0-2). Fouled out--Western Oregon University-None, Seattle Pacific-None. Rebounds-Western Oregon University 29 (Kelly,Sean 7), Seattle Pacific 31 (Chivers,Jason 14). Assists-Western Oregon University 16 (Tyner,Kevin 9), Seattle Pacific 16 (Binetti,Tony 5). Total fouls-Western Oregon University 14, Seattle Pacific 16. A-925