Complete Box Score

LAS VEGAS (Dec. 18) ­ Jared Moultrie sank a key three-pointer with 50 seconds to go and Tony Binetti scored 22 points, lifting 5th-ranked Seattle Pacific University over Pittsburg State (Ks.), 83-77, in the second round of the High Desert Classic Sunday at McDermott Center.

Off to their best start in four seasons under coach Jeff Hironaka, the Falcons (7-1) also got 19 points and nine rebounds from center Robbie Will (So., 6-10, Seattle, Wa./O'Dea).

With the Falcons leading by two and the shot clock 3 seconds from expiring, Moultrie (Jr., 6-2, West Point, Ut.) hit a 21-foot fadeaway from the left corner for a 79-74 advantage.

Binetti (Sr., 6-1, Enumclaw, Wa.) then scored the team's final four points from the foul line. Earlier, he converted all four of his three-point attempts. For the two tournament games, Binetti shot 12-15 from the floor (7-8 3-pointers) and 10-12 free throws. He also had five assists two blocks and four steals.

The Falcons led by nine late in the first half before a Pitt State surge of eight straight points. SPU never trailed after a Binetti trey five minutes into the final period.

Seattle Pacific made 23 of 26 free throws and the bench outscored their counterparts 27-8. Reserve forward Mike Bushmaker (Sr., 6-7, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) had 10 points, Moultrie nine and Brian Lynch (Jr., 6-1, Missoula, Mt.) six.

Chad Williams (Sr., 6-8, Burlington, Wa.) also had 10 for the Falcons, who shot 49 percent while holding the Gorillas to 42 percent.

Will had six points and Bushmaker drove twice for baskets during a 15-4 run which put SPU ahead, 73-62, with five minutes left.

The Gorillas, who had (5-7) rallied repeatedly, cut it to 76-74 on a three-point play by Zac Shepherd. Daniel Blair was Pittsburg State's leader with 19 points and 13 boards.

SPU plays its final non-conference game Wednesday night at defending regional champion Cal Poly Pomona.

SEATTLE PACIFIC 83, PITTSBURG STATE 77
PITTSBURG STATE (5-7) Jackson,Eddie 8-19 1-4 22; Blair,Daniel 7-11 5-8 19; Shepherd,Zac 5-9 3-3 14; Morris,Edward 4-10 3-4 11; McCoy,Justin 2-4 1-2 6; Bridges,Joe 1-5 0-0 3; Taylor,Carlos 1-6 0-0 2; Wachter,Andy 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 28-67 13-21 77.
SEATTLE PACIFIC (7-1) Binetti,Tony 6-7 6-6 22; Will,Robbie 8-14 3-4 19; Bushmaker,Mike 4-7 2-2 10; Williams,Chad 3-8 4-4 10; Moultrie,Jared 2-2 3-4 9; Lynch,Brian 1-4 3-4 6; Bremerman,Dustin 2-9 0-0 5; Knudson,Jeff 0-0 2-2 2; Matzen,Drew 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 23-26 83.
Halftime--SPU 36, PSU 35. 3-point goals-PSU 8-25 (Jackson,Eddie 5-16; Shepherd,Zac 1-1; Bridges,Joe 1-3; McCoy,Justin 1-2; Wachter,Andy 0-2; Taylor,Carlos 0-1), SPU 8-19 (Binetti,Tony 4-4; Moultrie,Jared 2-2; Bremerman,Dustin 1-5; Lynch,Brian 1-3; Matzen,Drew 0-1; Williams,Chad 0-2; Bushmaker,Mike 0-2). Fouled out-- None. Rebounds-PSU 38 (Blair,Daniel 13), SPU 33 (Will,Robbie 9). Assists-PSU 12 (Taylor,Carlos 3; Wachter,Andy 3; Jackson,Eddie 3), SPU12 (Williams,Chad 2; Moultrie,Jared 2; Binetti,Tony 2; Bremerman,Dustin 2). Total fouls-PSU 22, SPU Pacific 19. A-230