SEATTLE, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's basketball team fell to Seattle Pacific University 69-82 Thursday afternoon in Brougham Pavilion.
 
The two teams came into the game with identical records, both on the season and in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  The Wildcats are now 15-11 on the season with a 10-9 mark in the GNAC. 
 
Jawan Stepney led all scorers with 26 points for the Wildcats.  Stepney was 11 of 19 from the field and scored 19 of his points in the second half.
 
Malik Montoya added 11 points, and Khalil Shabazz rounded out the Wildcats double-digit scorers with 10 to go along with four rebounds and two steals.
 
Fuquan Niles scored six points and gathered seven rebounds in 22 minutes of action.  Niles picked up two fouls within the first three minutes of the opening half, forcing the Wildcats to sit him the remainder of the 17 minutes of action in the period.
 
The Wildcats shot just 30.3 percent in the first half and found themselves down 42-27 at intermission.
 
The Falcons built a 16-point lead early in the second half before Stepney pioneered a 14-2 run by the Wildcats to close to within four at 47-43 with 13:11 to go, but a three-minute scoring drought by CWU allowed Seattle Pacific to grow its lead back to double-figures.
 
A Stepney three pointer with 2:53 to play closed the margin to seven, but the Falcons shut the door on a comeback to grab the 13-point victory.
 
The Falcons made 46.6 percent of its shots in the contest and converted on 19 of its 24 attempts from the free throw line.  Seattle Pacific was also consistent from long range, connecting on 9 of 20 from behind the arc.
 
Five SPU players scored in double-figures led by Nikhil Lizotte and Hunter Eisenhower who each scored 15 in the game.
 
The Wildcats are now in fifth place in the GNAC standings and with a win Saturday over Saint Martin's or a loss by Alaska Anchorage, the Wildcats will secure the fifth seed and play Seattle Pacific in the first round of the GNAC Tournament.  If the Wildcats lose, and the Seawolves are victorious, the Wildcats will finish sixth and play Saint Martin's in the first round.