ARCATA, Calif. - A combination of senior leadership and freshman athleticism helped the Seattle University men's basketball team defeat Cal Poly Pomona, 69-55, Friday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament at Humboldt State's East Gym.
Ricky Berry (Phoenix, Ariz.) shot 6-of-7 from the field, including two three-pointers, to lead Seattle University with 16 points. Fellow first-year player Chris Gweth (Beaverton, Ore.) scored ten of his 14 points in the second half to help the Redhawks come back from a seven-point second half deficit.
Seniors Ryan Webb (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) and Sam Kirby (Sacramento, Calif.) each earned eight points and four rebounds, with Webb also dishing out a game-high eight assists. David White (Seattle, Wash.) contributed seven points, eight rebounds, and a key blocked shot in the second half.
Cal Poly Pomona (20-8) outscored Seattle 12-4 early in the second half to open a seven-point lead. Down 45-38 seven minutes into the second half, the Redhawks scored the next seven points over a two and a half minute span to tie the game, and White scored on a dunk to give Seattle the lead for good, as the Redhawks outscored the Broncos 18-4 over the last 6:28 of the game.
"In the second half, I was just trying to make sure that they (Berry and Gweth) were getting their shots because they had the hot hands," Webb said. "Even when we were down seven, I did not any signs of timid play in any of my teammates."
After Cal Poly Pomona took a 13-8 lead six minutes into the game, Seattle University scored 11 unanswered points, bookended by Berry three-pointers, to go on top 19-13. Cal Poly Pomona scored five straight points to tie the game, and the lead bounced back and forth before Gweth hit two free throws at the end of the half to give the Redhawks a 31-29 lead going into intermission.
Larry Gordon led Cal Poly Pomona with 23 points, 14 of them coming in the second half. Dion Cook scored 15 points, but they all came in the first half as he finished the game 5-of-17 from the field. The Broncos shot only 21.9 percent from the field in the second half, including 2-of-16 from behind the three-point line.
Seattle University (20-8) advances to the regional semifinals to face Cal State San Bernardino Saturday, March 10, at 5 p.m. The Coyotes defeated BYU-Hawaii, 71-68, in the second regional quarterfinal Friday. Live stats and the Internet broadcast will be available by going to the Seattle University athletics website and clicking on the microphone in the right column.