SENIOR NIGHT: In its last 11 games, Seattle University has an 8-3 record, including a 6-1 record at KeyArena, heading into Tuesday's contest against Portland State. This will also serve as the final regular season home game for seniors Mike Boxley, Chris Gweth, and Taylor Olson, who have seen numerous changes during their four-year tenure with the Redhawks. Portland State is preparing for the Big Sky Tournament and is also looking to avenge a last-second loss to SeattleU on Feb. 7. SeattleU also has postseason dreams, and a victory Tuesday night will make those dreams a possibility, as the Redhawks clinch a winning season with a win.
THE CAL STATE BAKERSFIELD GAME: Behind 21 points from Alex Jones, including a putback with 16.5 seconds remaining in regulation, Seattle University was able to hold off a determined Cal State Bakersfield squad, 76-72, Saturday night at KeyArena at Seattle Center. Jones shot only 4-of-13 from the field, but did hit his only three-point attempt and also went 12-for-16 from the free throw line. Aaron Broussard and Cervante Burrell each scored 12 points, while Charles Garcia just missed a double-double with nine points and ten rebounds. Cal State Bakersfield scored the first eight points of the second half to cut its deficit to five at 40-35 before Jones hit two free throws and his three-pointer to extend SeattleU's lead to ten points. The Roadrunners kept battling, with back-to-back baskets by Marcus Hall pulling the visitors back within three at 69-66 with 2:11 left in the second half. Blakley hit his second three-pointer of the game with 30.1 seconds remaining to pull Cal State Bakersfield within two at 72-70. Taylor Olson was immediately fouled and made both free throws, but Stephon Carter responded with a basket with 21.6 seconds left. Broussard was fouled and missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Jones was there for the rebound and layup. Broussard pulled down the rebound of a missed Hall three-point attempt, and SeattleU was able to run out the clock for its sixth victory in the last seven games. SeattleU shot 40.8 percent (29-of-71) from the field, including 4-of-10 from behind the three-point line, and 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from the free throw line. The Redhawks won the rebounding battle, 43-38, and forced CSU Bakersfield into 27 turnovers.
JEFF SAGARIN SAYS: The Sagarin ratings is one of the most popular tools for comparing two teams and attempting to predict the result. As of March 1, Seattle University is 181st with a rating of 70.88 and Portland State is 203rd with a rating of 69.32. Taking into account a 3.82 home advantage, the Sagarin ratings would say that Seattle University is favored to win today's game by five or six points.
KEEPING UP WITH ALEX JONES: After a slow start, junior college transfer Alex Jones has been a major factor in the post for Seattle University. Starting with a 16-point performance against UC Irvine on Dec. 15, Jones has scored in double figures ten times, including the last five games in a row. Since the Sacramento State game on Feb. 13, he is averaging 19.0 points per game. In the last 19 games, the Phoenix native is averaging 11.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, shooting 50.6 percent from the field, including 13-of-32 from behind the three-point line, and 71.8 percent from the free throw line.
SCOUTING PORTLAND STATE: The Vikings come into Tuesday's game with a 12-17 overall record, including a 4-13 record on the road. Portland State finished the Big Sky season with a 7-9 record and earned the sixth seed into the conference tournament. The Vikings are scoring 78.9 points per game and giving up 79.6 points per contest. As a team, Portland State is shooting 48.0 percent from the field, including 37.5 percent from the three-point line, and 72.1 percent from the free throw line. Four active players are averaging in double figures for Portland State, led by Dominic Waters with 19.4 points per game. He is shooting 49.5 percent from the field, including 44.4 percent from behind the three-point line, and 89.9 percent from the free throw line. Jamie Jones is averaging 14.4 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game. Melvin Jones is contributing 11.4 points per game and Julius Thomas is scoring 10.5 points per contest.
SERIES HISTORY: Seattle University and Portland State are meeting for the 12th time in history. Seattle University won the first four meetings, starting with a 76-64 victory in Seattle during the 1956-57 season. The next two wins for SeattleU were lopsided, 104-54 in the 1957-58 season opener and 85-36 during the 1958-59 campaign. In the first meeting between the two schools in Portland on Feb. 16, 1971, Portland State broke through with a 109-93 victory. SeattleU's won on Jan. 16, 1979, 75-69, at the Seattle Arena. Portland State won the next three meetings, beginning with a 76-75 decision on Jan. 14, 1980, in Portland, followed by two wins last season.
LAST MEETING: Aaron Broussard capped off a career scoring day with a three-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining in regulation to give Seattle University an 80-77 victory over Portland State on Feb. 7 at the Stott Center. Broussard, also earning seven rebounds and a career-high six steals, shot 7-of-14 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line in accumulating a career-high 21 points. The last of his three made three-pointers came on a broken play as time ran down, with Broussard launching his shot from the top of the arc. Portland State's desperation attempt to tie the game as time ran out fell short. In a game with 14 ties and 10 lead changes, Portland State held a 66-60 lead with 9:18 left in the second half before a jumper by Gavin Gilmore and a three-pointer from Chris Gweth brought the Redhawks within one. The two teams traded baskets until the five-minute mark, when Charles Garcia hit two free throws after a Viking turnover to put SeattleU ahead, 71-70. After a Cervante Burrell steal led to a dunk by Gweth, the Vikings tied the game with a three-pointer by Paul Guede. Dominic Waters made four free throws to put Portland State back up, 77-75, with 1:45 remaining, but Alex Jones drew a foul and made his two free throw attempts with 1:13 left to bring the game even again. On the Vikings' next possession, Gweth stole the ball from Guede, setting up the final play. Burrell shot 7-of-13 from the field in scoring 15 points along with eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Garcia contributed 12 points, Gweth finished with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and four steals, and SeattleU big men Gilmore and Jones added eight points apiece, with Jones also pulling down six rebounds, five of them offensive boards.
CARDIAC HAWKS: Seattle University has won nine games this season by five points or less.
1) Nov. 19 vs. Fresno State - Cervante Burrell layup with eight seconds left in home opener for 85-84 win
2) Nov. 22 vs. Weber State - SeattleU holds off Wildcat rally for 91-87 victory
3) Nov. 24 at Utah - Redhawks hit 6-of-6 free throws down stretch to hold off Utes, 77-74
4) Nov. 27 vs. Presbyterian - Late Charles Garcia jumper ices 67-63 win in Las Vegas
5) Dec. 15 vs. UC Irvine - Garcia hits two free throws with 16 seconds left for 82-81 victory
6) Jan. 16 vs. Utah Valley - Clutch free throws from Chris Gweth, Aaron Broussard for 66-63 win
7) Feb. 7 at Portland State - Broussard three-pointer with 0.3 seconds left gives Redhawks 80-77 win
8) Feb. 22 at San Jose State - Three-pointer from Taylor Olson with 5.4 seconds left for 90-88 win
9) Feb. 27 vs. CSU Bakersfield - Alex Jones putback with 16.5 seconds left seals 76-72 victory
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: As part of the reclassification process, Seattle University is not eligible to officially win any statistical awards. However, if SeattleU was eligible, Charles Garcia would be 43rd in scoring at 19.0 points per game. As a team, Seattle University would be 11th in scoring offense and 16th in rebounding, averaging 80.1 points and 39.8 rebounds per game.
RECEIVING CHARITY: Charles Garcia has been prolific in getting to the free throw line so far this season, averaging 10 free throw attempts per game. Garcia has attempted a Division I-high 291 free throws, 25 more than Artsiom Parakhouski of Radford. Garcia has been a major reason why Seattle University is sixth in Division I in attempted free throws with 813.
LIVE FROM KEYARENA ...: Tonight's game will be broadcast by FSN Northwest, with Brad Adam and Francis Williams providing the play-by-play and analysis along with Jen Mueller on the sidelines. The game will also be streamed on GoSeattleU.com, but fans living in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska will not be able to access the live video stream online due to territorial restrictions.
ON THE RADIO: Dave Grosby and Gary Hill, Jr., will broadcast the game from courtside on 710 ESPN Seattle, beginning with the pregame show at 7:45 p.m. Gary Hill will also be updating his blog on www.seattleufan.com throughout the broadcast.