HOLDING A REDOUT: It will be the Redhawks against the Red Wolves Wednesday night as Seattle University heads to Jonesboro, Ark., to face Arkansas State in the first of a home-and-home series between the two teams this season. The tipoff is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. Pacific time, but the 710 ESPN broadcast will be delayed until 7 p.m. Seattle U is looking to snap a three-game losing streak and win its second road contest of the year.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
Seattle University
- Guard: #0 Prince Obasi - 6-2, 205 - Jr.
- Guard: #1 Allen Tate - 6-5, 205 - Jr.
- Forward: #2 Aaron Broussard - 6-5, 225 - Sr.
- Forward: #12 Clarence Trent - 6-6, 225 - So.
- Forward: #25 Eric Wallace - 6-7, 233 - Sr.
Arkansas State University
- Guard: #2 Trey Finn - 6-2, 210 - Jr.
- Guard: #5 Marcus Hooten - 6-4, 205 - Jr.
- Guard: #24 Edward Townsel - 6-0, 170 - So.
- Forward: #15 Brandon Peterson - 6-7, 215 - Jr.
- Forward: #33 Malcoln Kirkland - 6-8, 265 - Sr.
THE IDAHO GAME: Seattle University could not slow down an Idaho squad coming into Sunday's contest with positive momentum after defeating Oregon State Friday, as the Vandals shot 55.1 percent from the field on their way to a 73-62 victory over the Redhawks in an afternoon contest at KeyArena. Sterling Carter hit five three-pointers as he led the Redhawks with a season-high 19 points, while Aaron Broussard finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Despite pulling down 22 offensive rebounds, Seattle U scored only eight second-chance points as the team shot only 35.5 percent (27-of-76) from the field, including 6-of-26 from behind the three-point line. Idaho put the game away with 13 unanswered points over a seven-minute span in which the Redhawks missed all seven field goal attempts and committed five turnovers.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS STATE: The Red Wolves come into Wednesday's game with a 4-5 overall record after a 71-64 victory over Central Arkansas last Saturday. After losing four of its first five games, Arkansas State has won three of its last four contests, with the only loss coming in overtime at Austin Peay. The Red Wolves are scoring 60.2 points per game and giving up 63.9 points per contest. As a team, Arkansas State is shooting 42.3 percent from the field, including 40.3 percent from behind the three-point line, and 60.3 percent from the free throw line. Four players are averaging in double figures in points so far this season, led by Trey Finn at 11.9 points per game. Marcus Hooten is averaging 11.2 points per game, while Brandon Peterson is contributing 11.1 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game. Malcoln Kirkland has added 10.2 points per game, and Ed Townsel is contributing 9.0 points per game along with team highs in assists (26) and steals (20). The normal starting five for Arkansas State is contributing 88.7 percent of the team's scoring so far this season. This will be the first meeting all-time between Seattle U and Arkansas State, with the second one taking place Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012, at KeyArena in Seattle.
JOINING THE WAC: Seattle University is in its final year as a Division I independent before officially joining the Western Athletic Conference July 1, 2012. The Redhawks will be part of the WAC in 17 of the 19 sports offered at Seattle U, with men's soccer and men's swimming staying in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Seattle U was last part of a Division I conference when it competed in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC, now the WCC) from 1971 through 1980. As of right now, Seattle U will face the following schools in conference play beginning next season: Denver, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Texas-Arlington, Texas-San Antonio, Texas State, and Utah State. Boise State will be rejoining the WAC as a non-football member in July 2013.
MILESTONE WATCH: After passing the 1,000-point mark Nov. 22 at Montana State, senior Aaron Broussard is working his way up the Seattle U all-time scoring list. He currently has 1,064 career points, moving past Kevin Bailey (1,051 pts.) and Malkin Strong (1,062 pts.) into 30th place on the all-time list, just behind Ed O'Brien, Jr. (29th - 1,065 pts.), and Aaron Waite (28th - 1,066 pts.). If he continues to average 14.4 points per game, he will finish the regular season with 1,352 career points, which would be 14th-best in program history. Broussard also has 131 career steals, ninth on the all-time steals list and one steal behind Eric Briggs in eighth place.
THE LEADER OF THE REDHAWKS: Cameron Dollar is in his third year as the head coach of the Seattle University men's basketball team. Last season, the team continued to make its mark on a national level, defeating Oregon State for the second straight year and also earning a win at Virginia. After leading the team to a 17-14 record in 2009-10, he was named Independent Coach of the Year. The squad picked up victories at Utah, at Oregon State, against Fresno State, and against Weber State during Dollar's inaugural year at the helm. He had been an assistant coach at the University of Washington under Lorenzo Romar for seven seasons. As a player, Dollar helped UCLA win the 1995 NCAA Championship at the Kingdome in Seattle.
WEBSITE HONORS: The Seattle U men's basketball team has received two honors from college basketball websites. On Nov. 28, senior Eric Wallace was named Independent Player of the Week by College Sports Madness after earning season highs in scoring and rebounding against Montana State Nov. 22, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting from the free throw line along with eight rebounds and two blocked shots. He scored six points during the Redhawks' 17-6 run at the end of the first half that led to Seattle U's 85-73 victory over the Bobcats. On Dec. 1, Aaron Broussard was named to the November All-Independent Team by CollegeHoopsNet.com. In four games, the senior averaged 17.3 points per game, shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the free throw line.
SCANNING THE RADIO DIAL: For the third straight season, Seattle U men's basketball games will be aired on 710 ESPN Seattle, with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill, Jr., providing the play-by-play descriptions of the action from courtside. Wednesday's game will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis starting at 7 p.m. PST.
COMING ATTRACTIONS: After the road games at Arkansas State and Utah State, Seattle U will host Virginia at KeyArena next Wednesday, Dec. 21, beginning at 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast by ROOT Sports with Brad Adam, Francis Williams, and Jen Mueller. At halftime, Seattle U legend Eddie Miles, "The Man With The Golden Arm", will be honored for his contributions to the program both in his playing days and in current times. Also, Northwest Harvest is inviting all fans to bring non-perishable food items as donations for those less fortunate. Bins accepting the donations will be stationed at each entrance. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster and at the KeyArena Box Office.