ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Cory Hutsen and Matt Borton combined for 40 points, leading ninth-ranked Seattle Pacific to an 86-73 victory against BYU-Hawaii on Friday on the opening day of the GNAC/PacWest Challenge at Nicholson Pavilion.
The Falcons (5-1) rebounded from their only loss, a 90-88 overtime setback against Dixie State last Saturday at home. They remain in Ellensburg to play Hawaii Pacific on Saturday. HPU defeated host Central Washington 71-64 in the other first-round game.
Hutsen led all scorers with 22 points, on 9-for-14 shooting from the floor. A 6-foot-8 junior center, Hutsen also led his team with eight rebounds. Borton, a junior transfer from Idaho, posted his collegiate high with 18 points. His 6 of 8 performance from the field included four 3-pointers in five attempts.
Patrick Simon chipped in 12 points for the Falcons despite not making a trey. Neither did David Downs, who tallied seven of his nine points from the free-throw line. Those two entered the game averaging a combined six 3-pointers per game.
Scott Friel paced the Seasiders with 17 points while Cory Lange and Robbie Mitchell each had 10.
No. 4 Drury 95, Southwestern 52
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Cameron Adams scored 20 points, including 18 in the first half, as fourth-ranked and defending national champion Drury rolled to a 95-52 victory against Southwestern on Friday night at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
Adams, who tied his career high, hit 9 of 10 shots from the field and Drake Patterson added 15 points and a career-high nine rebounds as the Panthers moved to 3-0 on the season with its 26th consecutive victory.
Drury led just 15-13 after the game's first seven minutes, but the Panthers scored the next eight points to start the pullaway. They led 48-30 at the half, committing just three turnovers in the first half on their way to 13 for the game.
The Panthers outscored the NAIA-member Moundbuilders 47-22 in the second half to coast to the win, their 24th in their past 25 games at The O'.
