Four players scored in double figures for Seattle U, led by freshman Sterling Carter (Seattle, Wash.), who earned his first career double-double with 19 points and 13 assists, the most assists in a single game by a Redhawk player in four years. Aaron Broussard (Federal Way, Wash.) scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, while Alex Jones (Phoenix, Ariz.) contributed 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Taylor Stevens (Marysville, Wash.), who had not scored a point in limited action so far this season, made a major contribution to the comeback, scoring 11 second half points. He hit his third three-pointer of the night with 1:45 remaining in the second half to make it a one-possession game.
Eastern Washington (3-6) started the second half on a 14-4 run, with back-to-back three-pointers by Glen Dean and Kevin Winford giving the Eagles a 59-39 lead four minutes into the second half. Down by 19 with 8:18 to play, the Redhawks started chipping away at the lead, starting with consecutive three-pointers by Carter.
Broussard brought the deficit into single digits with a traditional three-point play and a layup to cut the Eagles' lead to 77-70 with 4:14 left. Seattle U started sending Eastern Washington to the free throw line to try to extend the game, but the Eagles, held without a field goal in the final eight minutes of the contest, went 18-of-22 from the charity stripe in the final four minutes to hold off the Redhawk rally.
Seattle U took the early lead, 16-13, eight minutes into the game before Eastern Washington scored six unanswered points to pull ahead, 19-16. The two teams traded the lead several times midway through the first half, but the Eagles outscored the Redhawks, 21-10, in the last seven minutes to take a 45-35 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Tremayne Johnson led the Eagles in scoring, shooting 7-of-8 from the field, including making all three of his attempts from long distance, and 9-of-10 from the free throw line to finish with 26 points, eight rebounds, and four blocked shots. Jeffrey Forbes earned 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists, Cliff Colimon contributed 18 points, and Cliff Ederaine led all players with 13 rebounds to go along with eight points and four blocked shots.
Seattle U played Wednesday without guard Cervante Burrell (Sacramento, Calif.), who is still feeling the effects of a right knee injury suffered late in the game at Portland State Dec. 1. His status for Saturday's game against San Jose State is unknown at the current time.
As a team, the Redhawks shot 44.2 percent (34-of-77) from the field, including 9-of-28 from behind the three-point line, and 73.7 percent (14-of-19) from the free throw line. Seattle U won the rebounding battle, 42-39, pulling down 20 offensive boards along the way, and committed only 11 turnovers.
Seattle University (4-9) welcomes San Jose State to KeyArena at Seattle Center this Saturday, Dec. 18, for a 7:10 p.m. contest. Dave Grosby and Gary Hill, Jr., will broadcast the game live from courtside on 710 ESPN Seattle, with the pregame show starting shortly before tipoff.