Falcon Men's Comeback Falls Short In Finale vs. Anchorage
March 6, 2004

SEATTLE (Mar. 6) – Kemmy Burgess hit the decisive basket with 8 seconds left as Alaska Anchorage staved off a late comeback by Seattle Pacific University to win 75-73 in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at Brougham Pavilion.

The Falcons, who trailed throughout the game’s first 37 minutes and by as much as 12, had a chance to tie with 2.5 seconds left but Jordan Lee missed one of two free throws. Blaine Durrant of the Seawolves (10-8, 20-9) then made one foul shot with 1.9 seconds left for the final margin.

Burgess led all scorers with 23 points–20 coming in the second half. Jason Chivers (Jr., 6-8, Los Angeles, Ca.) topped Seattle Pacific (10-8, 14-13) with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Chivers scored 13 second-half points, including nine as SPU thundered back from a nine-point hole. A 19-9 run was capped by Chad Williams stroking a three-pointer for the Falcons’ first lead, 70-69, with 2:05 left. Aaron Lawrence responded with a trey from the left corner for UAA before knotted it at 72-all on a driving layup 38 seconds to go.

Burgess’ basket came on a fallaway 15-foot from the left angle. After the subsequent inbounds pass, Lee drove the length of the floor and was fouled by Burgess. An 81-percent shooter, Lee’s first shot rimmed out and, while trying to miss the second, the ball banked in. Following Durant’s missed second free throw, Ralph Steele of SPU got the rebound but could not get off a shot from backcourt.

From the opening tip, the Seawolves raced to a 13-0 lead and led 36-26 at the break. Bullock scored 10 inside before picking up his second foul and UAA shot 65 percent, including 5-7 treys.

Bullock finished with 16 points. Anchorage, which had not won in its last nine visits to Brougham, shot 59 percent (29-49) from the field. Burgess had eight rebounds as the Seawolves enjoyed a 31-23 advantage on the boards.

Seattle Pacific got 14 points apiece from Lee (Jr., 6-2, Tacoma, Wa./Life Christian) and Dustin Bremerman (Fr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower). The Falcons committed a season-low five turnovers but could make only 42 percent (23-55) from the floor. They did sink 18-20 at the foul line.

The Falcons finished the season by winning eight of their final 13 games. It was their 16th straight winning season. All five starters are eligible to return.

ALASKA ANCHORAGE 75, SEATTLE PACIFIC 73

ALASKA ANCHORAGE ((20-9, 10-8)) Burgess, Kemmy 9-16 0-0 23; Bullock, Peter 7-9 2-4 16; Lawrence, Aaron 4-7 0-0 12; Fitt-Chappell, Adam 4-7 2-2 11; Durrant, Blaine 2-2 2-4 7; Simpson, Adam 2-3 0-0 4; Austin, Bob 1-4 0-0 2; Drake, Mark 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-49 6-10 75.

SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY ((14-13, 10-8)) Chivers, Jason 5-11 10-11 21; Bremerman, Dustin 4-8 2-2 14; Lee, Jordan 6-9 1-2 14; Steele, Ralph 4-7 3-3 11; Matzen, Drew 1-1 2-2 5; Cohen, Chris 1-4 0-0 3; Williams, Chad 1-5 0-0 3; Binetti, Tony 1-7 0-0 2; Knudson, Jeff 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 18-20 73.

Halftime: Alaska Anchorage 36, Seattle Pacific 26. 3-point goals-Alaska Anchorage 11-15 (Burgess, Kemmy 5-7; Lawrence, Aaron 4-4; Fitt-Chappell, Adam 1-2; Durrant, Blaine 1-1; Drake, Mark 0-1), Seattle Pacific University 9-22 (Bremerman, Dustin 4-6; Cohen, Chris 1-1; Chivers, Jason 1-2; Matzen, Drew 1-1; Lee, Jordan 1-2; Williams, Chad 1-3; Knudson, Jeff 0-3; Binetti, Tony 0-3; Steele, Ralph 0-1). Fouled out—Alaska Anchorage-None, Seattle Pacific University-None. Rebounds-Alaska Anchorage 31 (Burgess, Kemmy 8), Seattle Pacific University 23 (Chivers, Jason 10). Assists-Alaska Anchorage 24 (Brown, Jesse 5), Seattle Pacific University 19 (Binetti, Tony 5). Total fouls-Alaska Anchorage 17, Seattle Pacific University 14. A-600