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Western theme. It figures to be a wide-open race in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, if the first weekly of men’s basketball play was any indication. Seattle Pacific University can serve further notice that it again intends to be a contender this week it comes home to Brougham Pavilion. The Falcons (1-1, 8-5) seek their eighth straight home win when they take the court Thursday night (Jan. 11) against Western Oregon (0-2, 5-8). Western Washington (1-1, 7-5) visits Saturday (Jan. 13) for a rematch of the regional championship game. SPU travels to Northwest Nazarene Jan. 18.

No place like Brougham. Very little has come easily this season, and often it’s been the little things which have proven to be the difference. At home Seattle Pacific is undefeated (5-0), yet has won by an average margin of fewer than seven points. Whether it’s the timely scream from an Orangeman or the fare at the pregame meal, it’s made a difference, and Coach Jeff Hironaka hopes it continues to be so. The Falcons have won 16 of their last 18 GNAC home games and will likely need to continue on that pace to retain their championship and earn an NCAA Division II tournament berth.

Did that. The other half of the equation is being competitive on the road, and Hironaka has to be pleased with a hard-earned split in Alaska last week. SPU took advantage of a great start at Anchorage and then hung on for a 68-65 win over the Seawolves, who had been unbeaten versus Div. II opposition. Despite losing 90-78 at Alaska Fairbanks, the Falcons find themselves in the thick of the conference race. Six of the seven teams to play twice have gone 1-1. The first NCAA regional rankings are due next week.

Coming through. Some time during these next couple games Dustin Bremerman (Sr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) seems nearly certain to surpass a pair of icons on the school’s career scoring list. With 42 points in Alaska, Bremerman went over 1500 career points (1502, to be precise), and ahead of him are two members of the Falcon Legends Hall of Fame, Howard Heppner (1521) and Jim Ballard (1530). After that comes a long haul before coming within range of the school’s No. 2 all-time scorer, Jeff McBroom (1655). Bremerman already is No. 3 in single-game and No. 6 in season scoring.

Compliment sought. What Hironaka continues to seek is a complimentary offensive threat for Bremerman. A year ago, Bremerman and Tony Binetti averaged a combined 36.2 points. While Bremerman’s numbers have remained near the same level, no sidekick has yet materialized. Center Rob Will (Jr., 6-10, Seattle, Wa./O’Dea), after a strong start, is averaging 11.6 points and three players are hovering around 10 per game. In Anchorage, forward JoJay Jackson (Jr., 6-5, Fairfield, Ca./Vallejo-Solano JC) was a solid contributor, with 18 points, including a key rebound and two free throws in the dying seconds. For the first time since his season-high 21 before Christmas, sixth man Rob Diederichs (Fr., 6-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) got involved at Fairbanks. Diederichs’ 13 points nearly equaled the total of his previous four outings.

Just plain board. With shooting just a bit un-Falconlike (.476), it’s imperative that SPU not allow foes a second chance to score. Out-rebounded in seven consecutive games beforehand, Seattle Pacific asserted itself at Anchorage, winning the battle of the boards, 35-23. That enabled the team to get a 9-4 edge in second-chance points after being dominated 37-17 in that area the previous three contests. The team has won 24 consecutive games when shooting at least 50 percent from the field, but the last two wins have come when shooting under 50.

Put-backs. The last four losses have come to teams who enter the week with a combined record of 41-11. Two–Central Missouri (No. 3) and Cal State San Bernardino (No. 15)–are nationally-ranked...Two of the wins have come over current conference leaders BYU Hawaii (10-4 in the PacWest) and Cal Poly Pomona (8-2, CCAA and now No. 19 in the nation)...Bremerman is 10th in GNAC career scoring, 8th in three-pointers and rebounds ...Last week’s games featured two completely different starts. The Falcons scored the game’s first seven points at Anchorage, later went on a 17-2 run and eventually led by 21. At Fairbanks, the Nanooks never trailed, jumping in front 13-1. SPU managed to come within one point in the first half and five with less than six minutes left in the game...The Falcons have been out-rebounded in eight of the last nine games, including margins of nine or more in four of the last seven...After mustering only 12 points vs. UAA, the reserves totaled 28 against UAF, with Diederichs (13) and Marques Echols (Jr., 6-2, Seattle, Wa./ Garfield-Peninsula CC), who had 11, accounting for most of the offense...The team is coming off a season-low 24 rebounds at Fairbanks. The Nanooks punished SPU inside, where they scored 48 points and, overall, they shot 63 percent overall...The Falcons are ninth in GNAC rebounding margin (-4.5) and No. 2 in three-pointers made (9.2). Individually, Will is the blocks leader (2.2). Bremerman is No. 4 in scoring (18.0) and free-throw accuracy (.917). He ranks seventh nationally in the latter...LiveStats are now available for all home games at the Falcons Online...Binetti is the No. 3 scorer for Ignis Castelletto Ticino in the Italian second division, averaging 10.0 points. Ignis is 4-12 and is at the bottom of the standings...Defensively, SPU is holding opponents to 4.5 fewer points (74.8) than last season but its own offense is down 10.6 and the shooting percentage has slipped nearly five points from .520.

SPU Coaches. In his first season Jeff Hironaka won more games (16) than all but one other first-year SPU coach, and he took a team to the NCAA tournament in only his third year–faster than any predecessor. Hironaka broke new ground again in 2006, as his team reached the Final Four, winning both GNAC and regional titles, and he was voted the West Region Coach of the Year. His record entering this season is 76-39.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.