ONE MORE STOP: Seattle University completes the stretch of four games in four different states in eight days Saturday with an afternoon contest against Weber State, the third straight opponent from the Big Sky Conference for the Redhawks. Seattle U will look to duplicate last season's result against the Wildcats, while Weber State is hoping to defend its home court and get some payback from last year's four-point loss.
THE PORTLAND STATE GAME: Seattle University came back from a double-digit lead in the second half to come within one possession of tying the score, but Portland State used significant advantages at the free throw line and in the rebounding department to earn an 83-76 victory Wednesday night at the Stott Center. Cervante Burrell led Seattle U with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 shooting from the free throw line, plus he dished out four assists. Aaron Broussard scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Portland State took control of the first half with a 19-3 run over a span of six minutes to pull ahead by 15 at 36-21. Seattle U cut into the Viking advantage with a 9-4 scoring run over the final five minutes of the first half, punctuated by a traditional three-point play from Burrell, who scored 14 points in the first half. A three-point play by Alex Jones brought Seattle U within six at 44-38 early in the second half, but Portland State scored eight unanswered points to extend its advantage to 52-38. The Redhawks made a couple more surges later in the half, with a three-point play by Broussard bringing Seattle U within two at 67-65 with 5:54 left in the second half. The Vikings extended their lead to six points on baskets by Nate Lozeau and Chris Harriel, and then went 8-for-10 from the free throw line in the final minute to ice the game. Jones went 6-of-7 from the field and scored 13 points, Sterling Carter hit three three-pointers after halftime and finished with 11 points, and Mark McLaughlin contributed 10 points off the bench. As a team, Seattle U shot 48.4 percent (31-of-64) from the field, including 6-of-20 from behind the three-point line, and 8-of-12 from the free throw line.
SCOUTING WEBER STATE: The Wildcats enter Saturday's game with a 3-3 record as well as a week of rest, last playing in the third-place game of the Great Alaska Shootout Nov. 27. Of the team's three victories, only one has come against a Division I opponent (Drake). Weber State is scoring 77.2 points per game and giving up 72.3 points per contest. As a team, the Wildcats are shooting 47.0 percent from the field, including 42.7 percent from behind the three-point line, and 78.9 percent from the free throw line. In the NCAA statistical rankings through games of Nov. 28, Weber State is ninth in the country in free throw percentage and 18th in three-point field goal percentage. Damian Lillard leads the team and is 15th in the nation in scoring, averaging 22.5 points per game. Scott Bamforth is contributing 12.3 points per game, shooting 53.3 percent from long distance.
SEATTLE U VS. WEBER STATE: Seattle University and Weber State are meeting for the 16th time in history, with Weber State holding a 9-6 series edge. These teams first met in the 1965-66 season in Seattle, with Seattle U earning a 95-82 victory. Weber State earned a victory on its home floor the next season, 86-72. The teams played twice during the regular season in each of the next four years, splitting those meetings every year. On March 8, 1969, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Las Cruces, N.M., Weber State defeated Seattle U, 75-73. Weber State won the games that took place in 1978-79 (90-60), 1979-80 (80-71), and 1998-99 (91-63). On Nov. 22, 2009, at KeyArena, Seattle U went on a 14-2 run midway through the second half and held on for a 91-87 victory. Charles Garcia earned a double-double, leading all players with 27 points and 11 rebounds. Aaron Broussard finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and two steals, and Cervante Burrell went 7-for-9 from the field on his way to scoring 15 points.