COMFORTABLE SETTING: Seattle University made a valiant comeback effort Wednesday night, but it was not enough. Now the Redhawks return to a place where they have posted a 14-4 record since Jan. 1, 2009, and welcome the San Jose State Spartans for the first meeting between the two schools in Seattle in 55 years.
THE EASTERN WASHINGTON GAME: Seattle University made a furious comeback, cutting a 20-point lead down to two points late in the game, but Eastern Washington made its free throws down the stretch to hold off the Redhawks, 95-91, Wednesday evening at Reese Court. Four players scored in double figures for Seattle U, led by freshman Sterling Carter, 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 scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, while Alex Jones contributed 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Taylor Stevens, 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 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. 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.
SCOUTING SAN JOSE STATE: The Spartans come into Saturday's game with a 6-3 overall record, including a 3-2 road record with victories at Eastern Washington, at Oregon, and at UC Irvine. San Jose State is scoring 72.7 points per game and giving up 70.3 points per contest. As a team, the Spartans are shooting 39.3 percent from the field, including 32.2 percent from behind the three-point line, and 77.3 percent from the free throw line. Senior Adrian Oliver leads the team in scoring, averaging 25.4 points per game, which is third in the country among Division I players. Justin Graham is averaging 14.9 points per game, shooting 56.0 percent from behind the three-point line. Keith Shamburger is contributing 10.1 points per game, helped in part by a .909 free throw percentage. Wil Carter leads the team in rebounding with 9.0 rebounds per game to go along with 8.4 points per contest.
SEATTLE U VS. SAN JOSE STATE: Seattle University and San Jose State will meet for the sixth time in history, with San Jose State holding a slim 3-2 series edge. These two teams first met during the 1947-48 season, with San Jose State winning back-to-back games in Seattle (52-33 and 59-39). Seattle U started the 1955-56 season with back-to-back home games against San Jose State. San Jose State won the first game, 65-59, before Seattle U earned a 62-46 victory in the second game.
LAST YEAR'S MEETING: Taylor Olson hit a three-pointer from the right corner with 5.4 seconds left in the second half to give Seattle University a 90-88 victory over San Jose State on Feb. 22, 2010, at the Event Center in San Jose, Calif. The final two minutes were a seesaw battle, starting with a free throw by Charles Garcia with 1:45 left to give SeattleU an 85-84 lead. Adrian Oliver made two free throws to give the Spartans a one-point advantage, followed by empty possessions for each team. Alex Jones stole the ball with 30.7 seconds left to give SeattleU a chance at retaking the lead. Jones hit a jumper with 15 seconds left to put the Redhawks on top, 87-86, but Mac Peterson drew a foul and made both free throws to allow the Spartans to go back on top, 88-87, with 10 seconds left. During Peterson's free throws, San Jose State called timeout to set its defense, but it also allowed SeattleU to draw up the play, and Olson found himself wide open in the corner for the winning shot. The Spartans put the ball in Oliver's hands for one final attempt, but the Redhawk defense swarmed him, and Olson was credited with the steal that sealed the victory. Garcia scored 17 of his team-high 20 points in the second half, plus he pulled down five rebounds and dished out four assists. Jones finished with 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field to go along with three rebounds and three steals, and Cervante Burrell contributed 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.