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January 2026

Seattle Pacific Edges Central Washington

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Seattle, WA – The Seattle Pacific Falcons hosted the Central Washington Wildcats in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) battle between two teams fighting to improve their middle of the pack position in the conference standings. This game was going to be not only a fight to move up in the standings, but also a contrast in styles with the Falcons favoring half-court offense and the Wildcats looking to run.   

The Falcons built an early nine-point lead on strong post play, three-point shooting, and even some surprising buckets in transition but the Wildcats clawed their way back into the game with help from their bench and the free throw line. At halftime, the Seattle Pacific was up 41-36. The Falcons extended their lead to seven points at the fifteen-minute mark before an offensive burst pushed the game seemingly out of reach to 56-42.  But once again, the Central Washington chipped away until the Falcon lead was only one point with 2:28 remaining. Two big plays from Trace Evans, including a jump hook off the glass to extend the lead to three and a block shot on a put back in the closing seconds sealed the victory—much to the relief of the raucous Royal Brougham Pavilion crowd. The Falcons won 66-63 to improve to 8-5 on the year. Central Washington falls to 8-9.

The 6’9” Aussie, Trace Evans had 17 points (7-23 FG, 0-1 3PT, 3-4 FT) plus 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 block shots, and 4 steals. The mustachioed graduate student does his best work in the post—from both blocks and scoring off either shoulder. On the season, he makes 60% of his post up attempts. Evans had a lot of inside looks in this game but got some tough bounces and couldn’t always convert.

Seattle Pacific’sleading scorer on the season, Julian Mora, had an uncharacteristically tough night shooting before fouling out. The 5’11 redshirt junior finished with 7 points (3-9 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT) along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists.  Although undersized, Mora’s an excellent athlete, having been a First-Team All-Conference baseball and First Team All-State basketball high school player in Oregon.  He leads on the court and makes the hustle plays that help a team win. Coming into tonight, Mora was averaging 14 points per game on 1.09 points per possession. Mora’s most efficient scoring off the spot up, handoffs and basket cuts. He grabs 3.3 rebounds and dishes 2.4 assists per game.

Picking up the scoring slack for Mora, was 6’2” guard, Theo McMillan, and 6’5” guard, Connor Drinkwine. McMillan finished with 16 points (8-16 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT), 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in what was easily his best game. Drinkwine, also having his best game so far this season, added 16 points (7-9 FG, 1-2 3PT, 1-3 FT), 3 rebounds, and 1 steal. On a typical night, these players score 7 and 5 points, respectively.    

Fresh off having earned his second GNAC Player of the Week honors last week in an incredible two game performance against the Alaska schools, Anchorage and Fairbanks, Central Washington’s 6’2” junior Jordan Clark impressed at guard. Against the Falcons, Clark scored 22 points (4-12 FG, 1-2 3PT, 13-15 FT), secured 4 rebounds and made 3 assists–a nice homecoming for Clark who prepped at Seattle Christian, only a short drive away. 

For the year, Clark’s averaging 18 points per game on 58% true shooting percentage.  Add to that 3.5 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal and Clark fills out a stat sheet. The Wildcats love fast break basketball and Clark is excellent in transition as the ball handler taking it to the rim or pulling up for a jumper.  Clark also capably runs the high pick and roll game, albeit not without turnovers, and knocks down the catch and shoot.  He makes 41% from three with his preferred spots being the top of the key and the left and right wings. He’s still developing his dribble drive and dribble pull up game, although he showed an ability tonight to get downhill and draw fouls. He contributes 1.05 points per possession and maintains a 2.0 assist to turnover ratio. With another year of eligibility, Clark seems poised to play overseas at the conclusion of his college career.

Bradley Swillie usually balances out the Wildcat attack. The 6’3” junior finished with 10 points (4-11 FG, 0-3 3PT, 2-2 FT).  He grabbed 2 rebounds to go with 3 assists. For the year, he’s averaging 15.6 points per game and plays similarly to Clark although a bit more productive as a pick and roll ball handler. That said, tonight may have been the exception as he had 5 turnovers.

The 6’9” Chae Haynes typically cleans up the glass. The sophomore matched his season average with 6 rebounds tonight.  His 6’9” companion, Garrett Marrs, also came up big on the boards with 9 total.  Just a freshman, his performance so far this season has been uneven. He’s scored as many as 18 points but also has had several games in the low-single digits. He’s been averaging 4.5 rebounds so perhaps his work tonight on the boards bodes well for the Wildcats if they can get greater consistency from this 34% three-point shooter.  

Next up, the Seattle Pacific Falcons play at home Saturday against Northwest Nazarene. The Nighthawks are a perennial GNAC power and sitting in second place just behind Saint Martin’s. Central Washington takes on Montana State—Billings on the road.

This article was written by Justin Pallari, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

St. John’s Destroys Marquette

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

New York, NY – St. John’s came into last night’s matchup vs Marquette winners of their last two games both on the road against Big East rivals. They were now back at home in the mecca to host yet another Big East foe in the Golden Eagles who have been struggling this season and were desperate for a pivotal win. St. John’s had a hold on this game early grabbing a 15-4 lead in the first four minutes. Marquette would answer back to close out the half keeping the game within striking distance down 40-34. The Red Storm got great production from Oziyah Sellers who had 15 of his game high 24 points and also some great energy off the bench from Dylan Darling as well. As for Marquette they struggled with taking care of the ball, but the play of guards Chase Ross and Nigel James Jr kept them alive with 24 of their 34 total points. 

As for the second half it would not go well for the Golden Eagles in the slightest. Zuby Ejiofor who dealt with foul trouble in the first half would go on to explode in the second half. He scored 15 points to finish the night with 22 total and his energy along with his physicality was too much for the Marquette bigs to handle. The tandem of Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins destroyed the Golden Eagles in the second half with Hopkins having 10 points and 8 rebounds in the half alone. Marquette struggled on the glass and would continue to allow St. John’s to capitalize off of their careless turnovers. This would lead to the Red Storm dominating the second half and pulling away to a 92-68 victory, giving them their third straight win and moving them to 5-1 in conference play. 

St. John’s got great individual performances in this one but the two standouts to me were Oziyah Sellers and Zuby Ejiofor. Obviously Zuby is the head of the snake for this team but he continues to show potential as an NBA prospect. He plays with great energy on every possession and the physicality he displays is a problem for opponents every time he’s on the floor. Zuby is their offensive hub but he also does the dirty work at a high level. I believe Ejiofor is a consistent three point shot away from being a potential rotation level player at the next level despite being somewhat of an undersized big. Sellers also showed that he is going to be a huge part of St. John’s success this season. He showcased the ability to play on or off the ball and when his shot is falling he can mix his game up and attack closeouts or get to the rim.  

For the Golden Eagles I was extremely impressed by their backcourt duo of Chase Ross and Nigel James Jr. They were dynamic with their ability to get into the paint and finish around the rim. Their athleticism really stood out. Both can move well with a certain shiftiness that makes them hard to guard in a spaced out floor. James Jr. might be the better perimeter threat compared to Ross but they both are obviously the leading engines in Marquette’s offense. As for the defensive side they played with good energy and were active for the majority of the night. Ross was very good with going after guys from their blindside and generating some easy buckets off turnovers. I came out of that game thinking highly of both Ross and James Jr and I’m going to keep my eye on James Jr as his freshman campaign continues to be impressive.

This article was written by Jordan Amadeo, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Washington Outduels Ohio State Behind Steinbach

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Seattle, WA – The Ohio State Buckeyes, fresh off a dominating performance at Oregon in which they blew the game wide open by holding the Ducks scoreless for five minutes, made their way to Seattle looking to sweep the Pacific Northwest teams.  Meanwhile, the  Washington Huskies were back home after two tough losses on the road at Indiana and Purdue.

The Buckeyes jumped to an early lead thanks to terrific shooting and domination on the offensive glass. The Huskies hung tough and held Ohio State scoreless for three minutes toward the end of the first half to whittle the deficit to two points at the break. Ohio State again started strong, but the Huskies answered the Buckeyes’ 5-0 run at the beginning of the second half with a 12-0 run of their own to take the lead 46-45. The Huskies held their lead, but it was tenuous and if not for several clutch rebounds, blocked shots, and made free throws by 6’11 Franck Kepnang with the game still in the balance, the Dawgs might have lost.  The Huskies won 81-74 to improve to 10-6 on the year. Ohio State falls to 11-5.

Continuing to impress, as he has all season, was Huskies’ 6’11 freshman Hannes Steinbach. In only his thirteenth game as a Husky, the former German Bundesliga professional scored 21 points (9-19 FG, 0-3 3PT, 3-3 FT), and added nine rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes. Steinbach displays excellent court vision and natural instincts. He also understands leverage, using his body to seal defenders for easy finishes in the flash post and outmuscle guys for putbacks. He runs well in transition and although it’s a smaller part of his game, he’s making nearly 40% of his three-point attempts on 1.5 shots per game. Steinbach’s averaging 1.2 points per possession on a 67% true shooting percentage.

Steinbach anchors the Husky defense. He disrupts shots in the paint and rotates effectively to help his teammates.  He’s not an elite mover laterally and therefore sometimes finds himself in trouble with quicker guards in the switch-heavy Husky defense. Steinbach’s an excellent rebounder averaging 11 boards and nearly one steal per game. Steinbach projects as a Top 20 NBA draft pick this year.

Leading Ohio State’s balanced attack this season is 6’2 senior Bruce Thornton  Thornton has had a terrific career with the Buckeyes so far and brings a wealth of on-court experience having started every game since arriving in Columbus. He’s a high motor, physical point guard with an outstanding outside shot and ability to get downhill—mostly to his right. Thornton manages the high pick and roll game dribbling off the screen to make the correct read. He’s equally effective in transition whether as a finisher or creator. Thornton takes care of the ball, maintaining a 2.7 assist to turnover ratio. He averages 1.2 points per possession on 69% true shooting percentage. He shoots 43% from three with most of his shooting success coming from the top and left wing. Thornton grabs 5.3 rebounds per game.

Against the Huskies, Thornton scored 28 points (9-17 FG, 3-7 3PT, 7-8 FT), to go with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal in 37 minutes. He had one turnover. NBA front office concerns about his height may prevent him from being drafted but he’ll have an opportunity as a free agent.

Also coming up big on the scoreboard for the Buckeyes was 6’6 freshman Amare Bynum. In his highest scoring output of the season so far, Bynum finished with 20 points (8-19 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-3 FT) and four rebounds in 37 minutes. He’s a reliable finisher in the paint but has struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 26%. Nonetheless, his length, athleticism and touch from the free throw line (75% shooter) suggest he’s a future prospect.

Things won’t get any easier for UW as first Michigan and then Michigan State come to Seattle to take on the Huskies. The Buckeyes fly home to face UCLA and Minnesota later this week.

This article was written by Justin Pallari, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

Dramatic Comeback Gets Seton Hall Past Creighton

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Newark, NJ – With 15 minutes remaining, the Seton Hall Pirates trailed Greg McDermott’s Creighton squad by 16 points, but from that moment on, the game belonged to the Pirates. Head coach Shaheen Holloway cranked up the defensive intensity in an effort to ignite the offense, and the adjustment paid off. Seton Hall stormed back to complete a hard-fought 56–54 victory, capped by a dramatic finish in which freshman big man Najai Hines secured an offensive rebound and converted the go-ahead basket with one second remaining, drawing the foul in the process.

The calling card for the Pirates all season has been their tenacious defense, and it was on full display this afternoon. Adam “Budd” Clark’s on-ball defense stood out in particular, as he consistently stayed in front of his assignment despite navigating through multiple hard screens on each possession. His relentless pressure paid off whenever ball handlers let their guard down, as Clark was quick to strip the ball away, finishing with four steals. TJ Simpkins was another key defensive presence, doing an excellent job containing his man and forcing difficult shots. Simpkins’ impact showed up across the stat sheet as well, as he recorded two steals and two blocks to help anchor the Pirates’ defensive effort.

One of the few bright spots for Creighton in today’s loss was Miami transfer Austin Swartz, who has been on an impressive run. Swartz continued to establish himself as the Bluejays’ most reliable shot-maker, showing poise with the ball and advanced shot-creation ability. He knocked down several tough, contested three-pointers and finished with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. Through four Big East games, Swartz is averaging 18.5 points per game while shooting an outstanding 46% from three on 37 attempts. It will be worth watching whether he can sustain this level of play as conference competition continues.

The Pirates’ scoring was well balanced this afternoon, a product of strong ball movement and consistently finding the open man. Seton Hall recorded 11 assists on 19 made field goals, highlighting their unselfish offensive approach. Elijah Fisher led the way with 10 points. NC State transfer Trey Parker added nine points and has flashed real potential when sharing the floor with Budd Clark, a pairing Coach Shaheen Holloway has leaned on at times.

Four additional Pirates finished with eight points apiece—Clark, AJ Staton-McCray, Najai Hines, and Josh Rivera—further illustrating the team’s depth. Dating back to Holloway’s Elite Eight run with Saint Peter’s, his teams have thrived by playing 10 deep with little drop-off, and that identity is beginning to take shape in South Orange. Down the stretch, Clark was the only starter on the floor, surrounded by rotational pieces Parker, TJ Simpkins, Rivera, and Hines, a group that played with relentless energy and was rewarded with the win.

Ultimately, Seton Hall’s comeback victory served as a testament to its defensive identity, depth, and resilience under Shaheen Holloway. The Pirates leaned on relentless pressure, timely contributions from their rotation, and poise in the game’s biggest moments to erase a 16-point deficit and secure a statement Big East win. As conference play continues, Seton Hall will look to carry this momentum on the road when it travels to Georgetown on Saturday, while Creighton will aim to regroup and respond as it heads to Villanova on Wednesday in search of a bounce-back performance.

This article was written by William Murphy, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

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