SEATTLE (Oct. 31) ­ Seattle Pacific University is once again considered among the top contenders for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball championship, according to the preseason coaches poll.

The Falcons, who return three starters from a squad which went 26-6 and advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals, are ranked a close second to Central Washington. Seattle Pacific, the defending GNAC and West Region champion, got two first-place votes. While the Wildcats earned six. Alaska Anchorage was picked third.

Back for the Falcons' fifth-year coach Jeff Hironaka are six letter winners, including all-region guard Dustin Bremerman (Sr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower).

Seattle Pacific plays Saint Mary's in its first preseason game Nov. 10 in Moraga, Calif.