Seattle Pacific University clinched the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship last week, its first outright championship in four years.
The Falcons (22-3) boosted their conference record to 13-1 with an 89-76 victory over Saint Martin's, giving them their fourth title since the GNAC was formed in 2001. SPU shared the title in 2002 and 2007 and had its first outright championship in 2006.
Before this game, SPU had guaranteed at least a tie for the conference title when on Feb. 25, they beat second-place Central Washington 100-92.
Now ranked No. 1 in the West Region, SPU will host the first three rounds of the regional playoffs on March 12, 13 and 15, if they keep the top position. Even so, the men will compete in their sixth straight NCAA Division II Tournament.
Senior Rob Diederichs, who had a GNAC record of 19 assists in the game against Central Washington, received the GNAC Athlete of the Week award for men's basketball March 1.
The Falcons close out the regular season next week in Alaska, with a game against Fairbanks March 4 and Anchorage March 6. SPU beat both teams in late January.[[In-content Ad]]
