SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Two familiar rivals squared off in probably the most important in the Saints' Falcons' rivalry. With a trip to a Sweet 16 on the line, it was a 42-point second performance by the Saints that ultimately advanced Saint Martin's to their first ever West Regional Championship game.
 
Saint Martin's came out of the gate strong, but 12 first half fouls allowed Seattle Pacific to find some traction at the free throw line. By the end of the first half, SPU led by four. The senior led Saints remained focused and the offense came alive in the second half. BJ Standley and EJ Boyce combined for 35 points, 27 coming in the second half alone. Luke Chavez put together another all-around game, going for 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, with only one turnover.
 
After a basket straight off the tip-off for Seattle Pacific, the Saints opened the game on a 10-4 run. Chavez and Jordan Kitchen each knocked down two baskets to be the early offensive spark.
 
The Saints, who relied on 3-point shooting all season, scored their first 18 points inside the arc, and only attempted two 3-pointers in the opening ten minutes. Rhett Baerlocher scored with nine minutes left to go in the half to give SMU a 15-11 lead.
 
After Baerlocher's basket, Seattle Pacific benefited from five straight fouls called on the Saints, resulting in the Falcons at the line. SPU used the momentum at the line to grind back into the game and take their first lead at 17-15.
 
EJ Boyce connected on the first long ball for the Saints exactly 17 minutes into the first half, but SPU responded right back with a 3-pointer of their own. The Falcons' lead touched as many as seven before halftime before the Saints chipped it down to 29-25 at the break.
 
SPU hit a 3-pointer to start the second and the Saints came right back but with force. Kitchen converted an old-fashion 3-point play, then Boyce connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to put SMU back on top 34-32.
 
The score remained within one possession for the next six minutes of action, the Saints holding a slight 44-43 at the 12 minute media timeout. Seattle Pacific slowly outscored SMU 7-2 over the next four minutes to regain a four point lead.
 
Needing a spark on the offensive end, Boyce came back into the game to hit his fourth 3-pointer. The basket ignited the Saints as SMU scored five straight from the line, then Chavez converted in the lane for a 57-53 lead with five minutes to go.
 
Over the next three minutes, the Falcons had come all the way back and took a 62-61 lead with 1:49 left to go. All game long, when the Saints needed a clutch, Boyce had stepped. The senior did that one more time, hitting a 3-pointer on the following possession. Saint Martin's defense proceeded to come up with stop after stop while Standley iced the game at the free throw line.
 
The Saints will face the winner of the Point Loma/UC San Diego game on Monday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. for a chance at the Elite 8. Live stats and video will be available with links on smusaints.com.