Falcon Men Open Hoop Season at Washington
August 26, 2004

Complete 2004-05 Schedule

SEATTLE (Aug. 26) ­ Seattle Pacific University will open its 2004-05 men's basketball season by playing its regular season game with the University of Washington in 23 years. The Falcons play an expanded schedule of 28 games as they seek a return to the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time since 2001.

The Nov. 19 opener at Bank of America Arena will be the first game against the Huskies since 1981-82, and it's the first contest with a Pac-10 foe in eight seasons. SPU will also meet Nevada in a Nov. 13 exhibition in Reno.

Seattle Pacific's home opener will be Nov. 20 at the Falcon Tip-Off Classic. It hosts Chico State, a '04 playoff participant, in Brougham Pavilion. In all, there are 13 home games, including the Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener Dec. 2 with Seattle University.

A trip to Hawaii for the Hilo Shootout over Thanksgiving allows for the extra game. In all, the Falcons play in four tournaments. Eight games are with teams which qualified for the NCAA Div. II tournament. Nevada made it to the Div. I Sweet 16 while Washington was a first-round participant.

SPU brings back all five starters from a squad which went 14-13. Eight losses were by seven or fewer points. Jeff Hironaka begins his third seasons as head coach. All-region center Jason Chivers, the nation's No. 5 rebounder (11.3) and team's top scorer (16.3), leads the list of returnees along with GNAC freshman of the year Dustin Bremerman.

In addition the tip-off tournament, Seattle Pacific also hosts the Oak Harbor Freight Lines Holiday Classic Dec. 29-30. The Falcons visit Las Vegas for the High Desert Classic Dec. 18-19.

Exhibition play begins with SPU hosting the Australia Institute Nov. 6. The final regular season game is Mar. 5 at Seattle U.