Seattle University hosted the fourth annual Students vs. Faculty basketball game in the Connolly Center on Thursday night. The annual game benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wish of children between the ages of 2-17 who have received medical treatment for more than six months. The foundation grants the wish of around 250 to 280 families a year.
Looking to avenge their embarrassing loss from a year ago, the students came out with tough defense and hot hands to defeat the faculty 136-124. The faculty nearly made a comeback with some help from the fans and their donations, but it wasn’t enough as the students hung on to win the game in overtime.
The first quarter started off sluggish for both teams, but after trading baskets, the students jumped out to a 14 point lead behind the efforts of David Bernica to take a 27-13 lead after one.
The second quarter saw much of the same from the students as they increased their lead going into the half, 36-20. The faculty tried to cut into the lead with a dazzling steal and bucket from Lisa Nielsen, but the students countered and increased their lead to 16 points.
Coming out of halftime, faculty head coach Tim Leary was looking to turn their luck around, but the students clamped down late to stretch their lead to 23. Doug Djang hit a three-pointer from well beyond the arc, and Andrew Kreiter came up with a breakaway bucket to pad the lead going into the fourth, 52-29.
The fourth quarter saw plenty of action, on and off of the court, as the faculty used donations to get back into the game (a total of $123 dollars was raised in the bribe war). Regulation ended with the score tied, 124-124. For the second consecutive year the game went into overtime.
In the overtime period, the students were able to shutout the faculty 12-0 to take the victory for the third time in four years, 136-124.
In total, the event raised over $1,800 for the northwest chapter of Make-A-Wish. Students of Seattle University raised about $600 in pennies, and the rest was raised during the event. The residents of the third floor in the Xavier Residence Hall won the annual penny wars, raising a total of $165 dollars in pennies for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.