BURNABY, BC – Simon Fraser University fell behind earlier in the first half and never recovered, losing 104-60 to Western Washington University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference men's basketball action Tuesday at the West Gym.
The win lifted the Vikings into sole possession of 5th place in the GNAC with a 7-4 record, 13-7 overall. The Vikings have won a season-high three consecutive games after road wins at Northwest Nazarene (80-78) and Central Washington (89-84) last week.
Simon Fraser (1-16, 0-11 GNAC) has yet to win a GNAC game.
Simon Fraser fell behind by as many as 18 points in the first half and then played catch up the rest of the way, cutting the lead to 12, 43-31 at the break. Western Washington shot 53.1% in the first half, making 17-of-32 field goals. The Viking recorded assists on 13 of their first half baskets and they were 7-of-14 on three-pointers.
The Clan was out-rebounded 20-12 and was just 11-of-29 from the field in the first.
Simon Fraser came out in second half and quickly cut the lead to nine but minutes later the Vikings pushed the lead back out to 18, 58-40, and then to 28, 75-47, eight minutes into the second half.
The lead reached 30 points with nine minutes left to play.
Six players for the Vikings reached double figures in scoring led by guard Blake Bowen with 24.
Four players reached double figures in scoring for Simon Fraser, led by point guard
Oshea Gairey with 13 points. Forward
JJ Pankratz scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Michael Harper (14.5 ppg) who leads three active SFU players averaging double-digits scoring this season, had 12 points and three rebounds.
WWU leads the all-time series against SFU 53-24, and has won 15 of the last 16 games.
Next up, SFU plays at home on Saturday, Jan. 30 against Montana State Billings in the West Gym. Tip-off is 7:30 PM. The game is a double header with the women's basketball team hosting its annual Pink Game (against Western Oregon, tipoff 5:15 pm), where fans are encouraged to wear pink attire or purchase a $15 Pink Game t-shirt with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Foundation. There will be a silent auction, raffle, 50/50, a half time competition and plenty of prizes to be won.
Follow the SFU Clan men's basketball team on the club's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/SFU_MBB.
--@SFUClan--
