Complete Box Score

LAS VEGAS (Dec. 17) Behind the 19 points of Tony Binetti, hot-shooting and No. 5-ranked Seattle Pacific University stormed out of the gate and coasted to a 93-65 rout of Missouri Southern in the first round of the High Desert Classic men’s basketball tournament Saturday at McDermott Center.

Chad Williams (Sr., Burlington, Wa.) added 17 points while both Drew Matzen (Jr., 6-4, Bothell, Wa./Lynnwood) and Dustin Bremerman (Jr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) each had 16 apiece for the Falcons (6-1), who shot 60 percent from the field and connected on 12 three-pointers.

Binetti (Sr., 6-1, Enumclaw, Wa.) opened the game with a trey and SPU made its first seven field goals, including four from outside the arc, to take a 19-3 lead after 4 minutes, 32 seconds.

Another 16-3 run by Seattle Pacific to open the second half effectively buried the Lions (7-4), who were coming off an upset of No. 20 Emporia State. It was only the second loss in the last seven for Missouri Southern.

After hitting just four treys and shooting 40 percent in Tuesday’s loss at Nevada, the Falcons enjoyed their best shooting performance in 18 games. Matzen, who posted career highs in both scoring and rebounding (9), was a near-perfect 7-of-8 from the floor.

Together, Binetti, Bremerman, Williams and Matzen made 11 of 16 three-pointers. SPU was 12-27 on treys and 37-62 overall.

Missouri Southern, which trailed by as many as 33, shot just 35 percent. Quentin Edwards led MSC with 18 points an eight boards.

SPU faces Pittsburg State (Ks.) in the second round of the tournament Sunday.

SEATTLE PACIFIC 93, MISSOURI SOUTHERN 65
SEATTLE PACIFIC (6-1) Binetti,Tony 6-8 4-6 19; Williams,Chad 7-10 0-0 17; Bremerman,Dustin 6-10 1-1 16; Matzen,Drew 7-8 0-0 16; Bushmaker,Mike 4-6 0-0 8; Will,Robbie 2-3 2-4 6; Moultrie,Jared 2-4 0-0 5; Lynch,Brian 2-6 0-0 4; Gabelein,Tim 1-2 0-0 2; Yuen,Austin 0-1 0-0 0; Knudson,Jeff 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 37-62 7-11 93.
MISSOURI SOUTHERN (7-4) Edwards,Quentin 7-15 2-4 18; Bond,Jeremie 3-4 6-9 12; Ryerson,Tyler 4-8 2-2 11; Miles,Ed 3-10 2-4 8; Hunter,Dale 2-3 0-0 4; McCadney,Jeremy 2-3 0-2 4; Hodge,Myron 1-7 0-0 3; Harris,Daron 1-5 0-0 3; Tidwell,Joe 0-0 2-2 2; Jones,Dan 0-8 0-0 0; Habermehl,Matt 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-65 14-23 65.
Halftime--SPU 47, MSS 28. 3-point goals-SPU 12-27 (Binetti,Tony 3-4; Bremerman,Dustin 3-6; Williams,Chad 3-4; Matzen,Drew 2-2; Moultrie,Jared 1-3; Knudson,Jeff 0-4; Lynch,Brian 0-4), MSS 5-18 (Edwards,Quentin 2-3; Hodge,Myron 1-5; Ryerson,Tyler 1-4; Harris,Daron 1-3; Habermehl,Matt 0-2; Miles,Ed 0-1). Fouled out-- None. Rebounds-SPU 38 (Matzen,Drew 9), MSS 42 (Edwards,Quentin 8). Assists-SPU 23 (Williams,Chad 5; Lynch,Brian 5), MSS 11 (Ryerson,Tyler 5). Total fouls-SPU 16, MSS 10. A-130