Box Score SEATTLE, Wash. – Seattle Pacific tallied a Great Northwest Athletic Conference record 61 rebounds to notch a 67-54 men's basketball victory against Alaska Thursday night at Brougham Pavilion.
The Falcons (11-3, 3-2 GNAC) surpassed the previous league record of 58, which was held by both Humboldt State (2005) and Northwest Nazarene (2008). They jumped into the record books after dominating the rebounding war 61-24 against the Nanooks (4-10, 1-3 GNAC), including 30-6 on the offensive glass.
SPU was led by
David Downs, who scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the first half, and
Cory Hutsen, who had 11 points and a career-best nine rebounds.
Both teams struggled as SPU shot just under 37-percent (26-71) to Alaska's 35-percent (20-57). Free throws were also seldom as the Falcons made only eight of 18 (44.4%), while the Nanooks (4-10, 1-3 GNAC) got to the line just 10 times, converting on eight tries (80%).
Freshman forward
Jesse Ward (North Pole, Alaska/North Pole) came off the bench to pace Alaska's offense with a career and game-high 16 points. Junior guard
Dominique Brinson contributed 11 points as the only other Nanook in double figures.
Seattle Pacific took control early, using a 9-0 run to grab a 13-4 advantage with just under 12 minutes remaining. The Falcons stretched its lead to 13 on two separate occasions and led 33-21 at the break.
SPU surged out of the locker room with a 10-1 run to open up the game and take a 43-22 lead with 17:27 left. The presence on the boards allowed its lead to grow as it led by as many as 25 twice in the latter part of the second half. The 'Nooks limited the Falcons to just three points in the final 5:37 as it closed the contest on a 13-3 run.
Alaska returns to action Saturday at 5 p.m. when it faces Montana State-Billings at Alterowitz Gymnasium in Billings, Mont. The Yellowjackets are coming off an 80-72 home loss to 18th-ranked Alaska Anchorage earlier Thursday.
