OLYMPIA, Wash. – Facing their first outside competition of the 2012-13 season, the Evergreen Geoducks dropped a physical game to the Seattle Mountaineers in a men’s basketball exhibition game on Thursday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Both teams came out pretty even in the opening minutes as the two sides traded baskets.  An 8-0 run put the Mountaineers up 20-13 with 9:41 left to play in the opening period but the Geoducks were able to cut the deficit to just four on a three-pointer by KJ Hong (Federal Way, Wash./Shoreline CC) with 46 seconds left.  Rashaad Powell answered back with a three for Seattle as the visitors took a 39-32 lead into the break.

In the second half, the Mountaineers pushed the lead into double-digits but the Geoducks stormed back, using a 16-3 run to get take a one-point lead on a three-ball by Hong with 11:41 left to play.  The more-experience Mountaineers eventually retook the lead and the advantage hit double-digits again with 4:13 left to play.   Seattle continued to hold off the Geoducks, leaving Olympia with a hard-fought 85-72 win.

The Geoducks were led by 18 points from Hong, 15 of which came from behind the arc.  Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Edmonds CC) came off the bench to add 14 points while Travis Wagner (Federal Way, Wash./Green River CC), Evergreen’s lone returner playing in the game, racked up 10 points in the loss.  The Geoducks were 24 of 63 from the field for 38.1%.

Seattle was led by 25 points from Powell.  Marcus Bradford added 19 points in the win as the Mountaineers connected on 28 of 69 attempts of 40.6%.  Seattle outrebounded Evergreen, 46-43, on the night.

The Geoducks officially open the season on Tuesday night when they travel up to Kirkland, Wash. to take on Northwest in a non-conference game.  Tip with the Eagles is set for 7pm at NU Pavilion.

Box Score