SEATTLE – The SFU Red Leafs men's basketball team put forward one of their best efforts of the season but lost in overtime, 82-78, to Seattle Pacific University on Saturday at Royal Brougham Pavilion.
 
Five Red Leafs scored in double figures, led by 17 points from Zach Stone and David Penney, but it wasn't enough to take down the Falcons. Immanuel Oludele added 13-points and Jahmal Wright and Elliot Dimaculangan had 11-points each.
 
The game featured 14 ties and 17 lead changes.
 
The final tie of the game came off a jumper from SFU's Stone that knotted the score at 78 with 45 seconds to play in overtime. But SPU came out of a timeout and Shaw Anderson threw down a game-winning dunk for an 80-78 lead with 23 seconds to play.
 
The Falcons stopped the Ref Leafs in their final attempt to tie the game when SFU senior Jahmal Wright missed on a three-pointer for the win with one second remaining. Syon Blackmon pulled down the defensive rebound and iced the game by making two free throws. 
 
SFU scored a three by Elliott Dimaculangan on its first possession of overtime for its only lead in the extra period, 74-71. After the three-pointer from the Red Leafs, SPU ripped off an 11-4 run over the final 4:14 of the game.
 
The Red Leafs had a chance to win it with a good look at the end of regulation. But SPU drew an offensive foul against Stone, and SFU turned over the ball with three seconds left, ending SFU's chance for a win in regulation.
 
"We challenged our guys tonight and they responded," said SFU head coach Steve Hanson. "I want to see improvement and more desire from our guys to compete for 40+ minutes and we saw that tonight."
 
"Our process of 10 guys getting better defensively and playing quality basketball was a win tonight," explained Hanson. "We had our chances to win in regulation and in OT. We were one play short, one defensive rebound short and that is how the game goes at times. It doesn't change how hard we competed on the road."
 

 
Both teams shot 50 percent from the field. SFU connected on 29-of-58 field goals, went 15-of-20 at the free throw line, had eight steals and five blocks. But the Falcons out-rebounded the Red Leafs 39 to 23 and went 17-of-18 from the line.
 
SFU has two final home games. SFU hosts Alaska Anchorage on Thursday, Feb. 9 in West Gym in a game that will feature performances by the Sardis Drumline band. Saturday, Feb. 11, SFU hosts Alaska in West Gym in its final regular season home game where the team's seniors will be honoured.
 
-- with files from SPU Communications
 
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