CLASH OF STYLES: The up-tempo style of Seattle University runs into the methodical play of the University of Virginia Wednesday night in a 7 p.m. Eastern time contest. 710 ESPN Seattle will broadcast the game on a tape-delay basis beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific time, with live stats available on the Virginia athletics website (www.virginiasports.com).
THE SAN JOSE STATE GAME: San Jose State took advantage of a significant rebounding advantage and made enough shots, especially in the first half, to earn an 86-70 victory over Seattle University Saturday night at KeyArena at Seattle Center. Alex Jones led Seattle U with 21 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field and 9-of-11 shooting from the free throw line, but fouled out halfway through the second half. Cervante Burrell contributed 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Mark McLaughlin also scored 12 points and Sterling Carter added 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists. A layup by Burrell gave Seattle U a 12-8 lead with 14:35 remaining in the first half, but San Jose State went on a 16-5 run over the next five minutes, with Justin Graham leading the way with seven points over that span. After back-to-back layups by Jones cut the Redhawk deficit to three at 24-21, the Spartans went on a 12-4 run, punctuated by consecutive three-pointers from Graham and Keith Shamburger, to pull ahead by 11, 36-25, with 4:18 remaining before halftime. Shamburger scored the final five points of a Spartan 8-0 run that gave the visitors a 55-39 advantage five minutes into the second half. Taylor Stevens hit a three-pointer to bring Seattle U within 12 at 59-47 midway through the second half, but San Jose State put the game away with 11 unanswered points over the next two minutes. As a team, Seattle University shot 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the field, including 5-of-24 from behind the three-point line, and 79.2 percent (19-of-24) from the free throw line. Meanwhile, San Jose State shot 40.3 percent (27-of-67) from the field, including 7-of-17 from behind the three-point arc, and 73.5 percent (25-of-34) from the free throw line. The Spartans outrebounded the Redhawks, 49-33, with the visitors earning 19 offensive rebounds during the contest.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA: The Cavaliers come into Wednesday's game with an 8-3 overall record after a hard-fought 50-49 victory over Norfolk State Monday night. Virginia has won six of its last seven games and is in the middle of an eight-game homestand. The Cavaliers are scoring 65.1 points per game and giving up 63.0 points per contest. As a team, Virginia is shooting 43.8 percent from the field, including 40.7 percent from behind the three-point line, and 72.0 percent from the free throw line. The Cavaliers will be without leading player Mike Scott (16.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg), who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle last Thursday. Mustapha Farrakhan is averaging 11.8 points per game and is shooting 81.1 percent from the free throw line. Joe Harris is contributing 10.4 points per game, while Jontel Evans, the only Virginia player to start every game so far this season, leads the way with 3.7 assists per contest.
SEATTLE U VS. VIRGINIA AND THE ACC: This will be the first meeting all-time between Seattle University and the University of Virginia. Seattle U is 1-2 against current members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Seattle U defeated Boston College in the 1952-53 season (99-86) and lost to Wake Forest in the 1977-78 campaign (85-67). Earlier this season, the Redhawks lost to the University of Maryland, 105-76, despite 20 points from Alex Jones, a double-double from Aaron Broussard with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and seven steals by Garrett Lever.
SCHEDULE COMPRESSION: Wednesday's game is the last of 15 contests played by Seattle University in the first 45 days of the 2010-11 season. Ironically, this stretch will begin and end in ACC country. After the Virginia game, Seattle U will have 10 days away from competition before the Jan. 2 contest at Pepperdine.