Complete Box Score

SEATTLE (Feb. 23) ­ Seattle Pacific University paid the consequences for a cold start, losing consecutive games for the first time and likely falling from its perch atop the West Region of NCAA Division II men's basketball.

Jeffrey McDaniel scored 29 points to pace Seattle University to a 90-76 win over their crosstown town rivals at Connolly Center, giving a boost to the Redhawks' tournament aspirations.

The 16th-ranked Falcons (12-4, 20-5), who were coming off a loss in their final home game, trailed by 14 at halftime due to inaccurate perimeter shooting and a second-half rally was stopped short.

After missing 11 of 12 three-point attempts in the opening period, SPU began to mount a comeback when it connected on its first three treys following intermission.

Drew Matzen (Jr., 6-4, Lynnwood, Wa./Bothell) hit from the left corner, making it 41-34. Later, a Dustin Bremerman (Jr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa/Eisenhower) bomb cut the gap to 45-39 with 15 minutes still remaining. But the visitors got no closer than 51-46.

At that point, McDaniel and Adam Moore of Seattle U. (7-8, 14-10) scored the games' next five points, restoring the lead to 10.

Seattle Pacific's last gasp got them within 68-62 with 4:55 left, only to have the Redhawks answer with seven straight points, punctuated by a David White dunk.

All five SPU starters finished in double figures, led by Bremerman's 17 points­15 (4-8 threes) coming in the second half. Matzen had 15 points. The team made just 43 percent of its field goals (26-60) and was outscored at the foul line, 22-14.

McDaniel made 11-17 shots and grabbed 14 rebounds­seven on the offensive boards. The SU reserves accounted for 25 points. SU shot 48 percent and made 12 steals.

With the loss and Western Washington's win over Humboldt State, the Falcons sank to second place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings.

SPU plays its final two regular season games on the road, visiting Saint Martin's next Saturday and Northwest Nazarene Mar. 4.

SEATTLE PACIFIC (20-5, 12-4 GNAC) Bremerman,Dustin 4-15 5-5 17; Matzen,Drew 5-9 2-2 15; Will,Robbie 4-7 5-6 13; Williams,Chad 4-8 2-3 12; Binetti,Tony 5-13 0-0 11; Bushmaker,Mike 3-6 0-0 6; Moultrie,Jared 1-1 0-0 2; Knudson,Jeff 0-1 0-0 0; Lynch,Brian 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-60 14-16 76.
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY (14-10, 7-8 GNAC) McDaniel,Jeffrey 11-17 7-8 29; Kirby,Sam 3-3 6-7 15; Namanny,Sean 3-8 4-4 12; Seals,Bernard 3-7 2-2 9; Moore,Adam 3-8 2-3 8; White,David 4-7 0-0 8; Swanson,Leigh 2-11 1-2 5; Webb,Ryan 2-3 0-0 4; Rainey,Scott 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-64 22-26 90.
Halftime-SU 37, SPU 23. 3-point goals-SPU 10-31 (Bremerman,Dustin 4-11; Matzen,Drew 3-6; Williams,Chad 2-4; Binetti,Tony 1-9; Knudson,Jeff 0-1), SU 6-14 (Kirby,Sam 3-3; Namanny,Sean 2-4; Seals,Bernard 1-4; Swanson,Leigh 0-1; Moore,Adam 0-1; McDaniel,Jeffrey 0-1). Fouled out--SPU-Williams,Chad; Bushmaker,Mike. Rebounds-SPU 34 (Will,Robbie 6; Moultrie,Jared 6), SU 38 (McDaniel,Jeffrey 14). Assists-SPU 15 (Binetti,Tony 6), SU 16 (Webb,Ryan 8). Total fouls-SPU 22, SU 16. A-787