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Falcons stop Seawolves in Seattle, 78-73

Men's Basketball UAA Media Relations

Falcons stop Seawolves in Seattle, 78-73

SEATTLE – Alaska Anchorage's Taylor Rohde scored 20 points but it was not enough Thursday as the Seawolves dropped a 78-73 decision to Seattle Pacific at Royal Brougham Pavilion in a key Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball showdown.

The Seawolves (16-6, 8-3 GNAC) – ranked No. 4 in the latest NCAA Division II West Region poll – also got a career-high 16 points and nine rebounds from junior guard Mario Gill, however they could not overcome big disadvantages from the three-point and free-throw lines.

The Falcons (15-5, 9-3) – ranked No. 5 in the region – got 20 points from guard Jeff Downs as they split the season series with the Seawolves and took a half-game lead for second place in the league. Forward Ryan Sweet had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and center Andy Poling delivered 19 points and eight boards for the home team.

The game was close throughout, including a 22-22 tie on Steve White's layup with 6:27 remaining in the first half. But the Falcons answered with a pair of free throws by Poling and back-to-back three-pointers from Downs to take a 30-24 lead that they would never relinquish.

UAA trailed 33-26 at halftime before another White layup would trim it to 50-48 at the 11:26 mark. Scott Morse answered immediately with a three-pointer on the other end, though, and the Seawolves could never again make it a one-possession game despite trailing by no more than 10 points.

Rohde, a 6-9 junior, shot 8 of 10 from the floor and grabbed all four of his rebounds on the offensive end. Meanwhile, Gill shot 5 of 8 from the field and the free-throw line to set his new scoring high as a Seawolf. Senior guard Brandon Walker was the third Seawolf in double figures with 10 points.

The Seawolves outshot the Falcons from the field – 46.8 percent to 45.8 percent – but SPU hit 8 of 21 (.381) from long range compared to UAA's 3 of 15 (.200). SPU also went to the foul stripe 33 times, converting 26 free throws. The Seawolves were 12 of 17 on charities.

SPU also won the rebounding battle by a 38-29 count as it avenged a 77-60 setback in Anchorage on Jan. 8.

The loss was UAA's seventh straight at Brougham after posting their last victory with a 75-73 decision on Mar. 6, 2004.

UAA finishes its road trip Saturday at 5:30 p.m. AST when it travels to longtime rival Montana State Billings.


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Players Mentioned

Brandon Walker

#22 Brandon Walker

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
Steve White

#14 Steve White

G
6' 0"
Freshman
Mario Gill

#2 Mario Gill

G
6' 2"
Junior
Taylor Rohde

#34 Taylor Rohde

F/C
6' 9"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Brandon Walker

#22 Brandon Walker

6' 3"
Sophomore
G
Steve White

#14 Steve White

6' 0"
Freshman
G
Mario Gill

#2 Mario Gill

6' 2"
Junior
G
Taylor Rohde

#34 Taylor Rohde

6' 9"
Junior
F/C