Complete Box Score

SEATTLE (Feb. 3) ­ Another strong shooting performance highlighted by Rob Will's 19 points on near-perfect marksmanship propelled Seattle Pacific University past Seattle University, 98-74, and into first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Saturday at Brougham Pavilion.

Connecting on 69 percent from the field (36-52) and with six players in double figures, the Falcons (7-3, 14-7) won their 13th straight at home before a homecoming crowd of 1979. They moved a half-game in front of Saint Martin's, which plays at Alaska Anchorage later Saturday.

The SPU bench scored 34 points and played a key role in two first-half runs. Marques Echols (Jr., 6-2, Seattle, Wa./Garfield) and Casey Reed (So., 6-5, Canby, Or.) combined for 10 unanswered points giving the Falcons the lead for good at 15-8.

Six different players scored in a 14-2 blitz which bumped the bulge to 34-15. Drew Matzen (Sr., 6-4, Bothell, Wa./Lynnwood) and Rob Diederichs (Fr., 6-8, Shoreline, Wa./Shorewood) each connected on three-pointers.

Seattle Pacific made 9 of 15 treys with Echols and Matzen getting three apiece.

A 25-point lead was slowly reduced to 13 midway through the second period but the Redhawks (4-4, 12-7) got no closer.

Ryan Webb topped Seattle U. with 19 points­13 coming after intermission.

Will (Jr., 6-10, Seattle, Wa./O'Dea) muscled underneath, making 6 of 7 shots and all seven free throws. Matzen had 15 while Dustin Bremerman (Sr., 6-4, Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) and Echols contributed 13 each.

Seattle Pacific finished with a 33-23 advantage in rebounds and held the visitors to 44-percent shooting (28-64). The Falcons have hit 64 percent or higher in three of their last four wins and have won 28 in a row when at 50 percent or higher.

SPU concludes its three-game home stand Thursday night by hosting Central Washington.

SEATTLE PACIFIC 98, SEATTLE UNIVERSITY 74
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY (4-4, 12-7) Webb,Ryan 6-15 7-8 19; Swanson,Leigh 4-12 4-4 12; Coldren,Ryan 4-5 3-4 11; Gweth,Chris 4-5 0-0 9; Kirby,Sam 4-11 0-0 9; White,David 3-8 1-2 7;Berry,Ricky 2-4 0-0 5; Boxley,Mike 1-3 0-0 2; Welt,Travis 0-0 0-0 0; Mulligan,J.J. 0-0 0-0 0; Olson,Taylor 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-64 15-18 74.
SEATTLE PACIFIC (7-3, 14-7) Will,Rob 6-7 7-7 19; Matzen,Drew 6-8 0-0 15; Bremerman,Dustin 4-9 4-4 13; Echols,Marques 5-7 0-0 13; Jackson,JoJay 4-6 2-2 11; Reed,Casey 5-6 1-3 11; Diederichs,Rob 3-5 1-1 8; Lynch,Brian 2-3 2-3 6; Yuen,Austin 1-1 0-0 2; Wardell,Adam 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-52 17-20 98.
Halftime-SPU 59, SU 21. 3-point goals-SU 3-12 (Kirby,Sam 1-5; Gweth,Chris 1-2; Berry,Ricky 1-2; Swanson,Leigh 0-2; Webb,Ryan 0-1), SPU 9-15 (Matzen,Drew 3-4; Echols,Marques 3-3; Bremerman,Dustin 1-4; Diederichs,Rob 1-2; Jackson,JoJay 1-2). Fouled out--none. Rebounds-SU 23 (White,David 5), SPU 33 (Jackson,JoJay 6). Assists-SU 14 (Webb,Ryan 5), SPU 30 (Lynch,Brian 5; Wardell,Adam 5). Total fouls-SU 17, SPU 17. A-1979