In a balanced effort, the Seattle University men's basketball team prepared for the start of the regular season with a 101-53 victory over Pacific Lutheran in an exhibition game Saturday night at KeyArena at Seattle Center.
Eric Wallace (Winston-Salem, N.C.) led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Aaron Broussard (Federal Way, Wash.) hit his first seven field goal attempts on his way to a 15-point, four-rebound, three-steal performance. Clarence Trent (Tacoma, Wash.) and Allen Tate (Hobbs, N.M.) each earned 12 points and six rebounds, and Cervante Burrell (Sacramento, Calif.) made a significant contribution despite not scoring any points, collecting six rebounds and six assists.
"I look forward to this season transpiring, as I think we have the opportunity to do something big here and bring this program back," Wallace said. "I think we have an advantage in that our big guys can play both inside and outside."
Seattle U hit its first nine shots from the field and its first five three-point attempts in opening up a 36-9 advantage midway through the first half, at one point scoring 20 unanswered points. For the half, the Redhawks shot 63.6 percent from the field and doubled the rebounding total of the Lutes, 26-13.
In the second half, Jarell Flora (Bremerton, Wash.) answered a Pacific Lutheran three-pointer with one of his own, starting a 14-4 Seattle U scoring run that pushed the margin above 30 points. The Redhawks ended the game on a 20-4 scoring run, with layups by Louis Green (Westchester, Ill.) sandwiched around a three-pointer from Deshaun Sunderhaus (Conyers, Ga.) that allowed the home team to reach triple digits in points.
Pacific Lutheran was held to 26.3 percent (15-of-57) shooting from the field, committed 15 turnovers, and lost the rebounding battle, 61-24. The Redhawks pulled down more offensive rebounds (19) than the Lutes earned in defensive boards (18). Kai Hoyt and Austen Wilson led the Lutes with eight points apiece.
"We did a good job on the boards tonight," head coach Cameron Dollar said. "We are now focused on Portland State (Tuesday night). I am going to give the guys some rest, but it was good for them to get out there and get their feet wet."
Seattle University will begin the regular season Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Portland State beginning at 7 p.m. Dave Grosby and Gary Hill, Jr., will broadcast the game from courtside on 710 ESPN Seattle. The Redhawks return to KeyArena in one week for the home opener next Saturday, Nov. 19, against San Francisco starting at 3 p.m.