Binetti Hits Career High As Falcons Men Win GNAC Opener, 90-81
December 2, 2004

SEATTLE (Dec. 2) ­ Tony Binetti pumped in a career-high 22 points to pace a balanced attack as Seattle Pacific University opened Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a 90-81 victory over Seattle University in a men¹s basketball game Thursday night at Brougham Pavilion.

Jordan Lee (Sr., 6-1, Tacoma, Wa./Life Christian) and Chad Williams (Jr., 6-8, Burlington, Wa.) added 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Falcons (1-0, 4-2), whose five starters all finished in double figures.

SPU led virtually the entire game and by as much as 17 in the second half. It committed just five turnovers and connected on 53 percent of its field goals.

Binetti (Jr., 6-1, Enumclaw, Wa.) scored 12 of his points in the first half when Seattle Pacific took command. He was 8-10 from the floor and 3-4 on three-pointers. The Falcons were 7-13 outside the arc.

Seattle University (3-2), which dropped its second straight, got 17 points from Ryan Webb and 15 from Jeff McDaniel. However the Redhawks made just 43 percent of their shots and never pulled closer than eight in the second half.

Jason Chivers (Sr., 6-8, Los Angeles, Ca.)­who had 13 points and 11 rebounds­and Ralph Steele (Sr., 6-2, N. Birmingham, Al.) combined for 10 points over a three-minute span when the SPU lead grew to 80-63 with 5:06 remaining.

The Falcons began to pull away late in the first half, going on a 13-2 run in the final five minutes. While six of the points came at the foul line, Binetti found Williams for a three-pointer at the top of the key and drove for two layups, the second making it 42-29 at the half.

SPU hit 5-7 treys and 50 percent from the floor in the opening period. Seattle U., after a quick start, made just 35 percent.

SPU hosts Northwest Nazarene Saturday night at 7 in another GNAC game.

SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY 90, SEATTLE UNIVERSITY 81
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY (0-1, 3-2) Makinde,Bim 6-14 5-5 17; Webb,Ryan 6-13 2-3 17; McDaniel,Jeff 4-13 7-10 15; Rainey,Scott 5-8 1-1 11; Coldren,Ryan 3-5 2-2 10; Seals,Bernard 3-9 0-0 7; Bloom,Andy 2-6 0-0 4; Vessey,Kyle 0-0 0-0 0; Nelson,Keith 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-68 17-21 81.
SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY (1-0, 4-2) Binetti,Tony 8-10 3-4 22; Lee,Jordan 5-12 3-6 15; Williams,Chad 5-7 3-4 14; Chivers,Jason 5-13 3-4 13; Bremerman,Dustin 2-5 6-6 11; Steele,Ralph 2-3 4-4 8; Bushmaker,Mike 2-3 1-2 5; Knudson,Jeff 1-3 0-0 2; Birkle,Matt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-57 23-30 90.

Seattle University............ 29 52 - 81 
Seattle Pacific University.... 42 48 - 90

3-point goals-SU 6-18 (Webb,Ryan 3-4; Coldren,Ryan 2-3; Seals,Bernard 1-4; Bloom,Andy 0-2; McDaniel,Jeff 0-2; Makinde,Bim 0-3), SPU 7-13 (Binetti,Tony 3-4; Lee,Jordan 2-3; Williams,Chad 1-3; Bremerman,Dustin 1-2; Knudson,Jeff 0-1). Fouled out--SU-Coldren,Ryan, SPU-None. Rebounds-SU 40 (McDaniel,Jeff 9), SPU 32 (Chivers,Jason 11). Assists-SU 12 (Webb,Ryan 5), SPU 22 (Bremerman,Dustin 7). Total fouls-SU 27, SPU 21. A-712