A HECTIC PACE: This stretch of three home games over the span of a week continues Monday for Seattle University, as it hosts Eastern Washington in a Martin Luther King Day contest. This is the sixth time the Redhawks and Eagles have met on the basketball court since February 2009, but it will be the first game against Seattle U for new Eastern Washington head coach Jim Hayford. The Redhawks look to snap a four-game losing streak Monday night.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Seattle University
- Guard: #5 Cervante Burrell - 5-10, 170 - Sr.
- Guard: #10 Sterling Carter - 6-0, 200 - So.
- Forward: #2 Aaron Broussard - 6-5, 225 - Sr.
- Forward: #12 Clarence Trent - 6-6, 225 - So.
- Forward: #25 Eric Wallace - 6-7, 233 - Sr.
THE UTAH VALLEY GAME: Seattle University's full-court press did not work as well Friday night as in previous games, as Utah Valley committed only 14 turnovers and saw six players reach double figures in points as the Wolverines completed the season sweep with an 84-74 victory over the Redhawks at KeyArena. Aaron Broussard notched his fourth double-double in the last five games, leading the Redhawks with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Sterling Carter hit three three-pointers as he finished with 11 points, while Eric Wallace and Cervante Burrell each earned 10 points and five rebounds, with Burrell also dishing out five assists. Seattle U jumped out to an 11-4 lead in the first three minutes before Utah Valley stormed back, outscoring the Redhawks 27-5 in the next six minutes, including two three-pointers by Isiah Williams and back-to-back three-pointers from Keith Thompson. Seattle U came back with its own 18-6 run over a seven-minute span, punctuated by a three-pointer from Chad Rasmussen, but the Wolverines scored five straight points before Carter hit a three-pointer at the end of the half to cut the Utah Valley advantage to 42-37 at halftime. Broussard hit a three-pointer to bring the Redhawks back within eight at 65-57, but an 8-0 run over the next two minutes solidified the Utah Valley victory.
SCOUTING EASTERN WASHINGTON: The Eagles are 9-9 after losing a Big Sky Conference contest Saturday afternoon against Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., 71-70. Eastern Washington is scoring 72.1 points per game and giving up 69.3 points per contest. As a team, the Eagles are shooting 41.1 percent from the field, including 36.2 percent from behind the three-point line, and 72.3 percent from the free throw line. Collin Chiverton leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game. He has made 58 three-pointers so far this season, averaging 3.2 long distance baskets per game. Cliff Colimon is contributing 15.1 points and 5.4 assists per game, plus he had hit 41 shots from behind the three-point line. Cliff Ederaine is contributing 11.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
SEATTLE U VS. EASTERN WASHINGTON: Seattle University and Eastern Washington will be meeting for the 17th time in history, with the Eagles holding a 10-6 series edge. Eastern Washington won the first seven meetings of the series: four in 1945-46, two in 1946-47, and one in 1948-49. Seattle University broke through with a 55-48 victory later in 1948-49 in Seattle. Seattle U swept the season series from Eastern Washington in 1951-52. It would be 34 years before the two schools resumed the in-state rivalry, with Seattle U opening the 1985-86 season with an 83-64 loss at Eastern Washington. After another 23 years, the Redhawks made the trip to Cheney and pulled out a 63-59 victory over the Eagles in overtime. The two schools have split the season series over the past two years, with each team winning on its home floor.
IT STARTS WITH AB: 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 1,227 career points, currently 20th on the all-time list. Friday he passed Earl Spangler, the gentleman who held the all-time scoring record before Johnny O'Brien arrived from New Jersey. He is close to moving past Don Ogorek (1,230 points) and Ed O'Brien (1,237 points). Broussard also has 144 career steals, moving within one steal of Mike Boxley for fifth place on the career steals list. Broussard was named the Jesuit Player of the Week by the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight after his all-tournament performance in the Elgin Baylor Classic. He was also the College Sports Madness Independent Player of the Week after averaging 25.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game against Nebraska Omaha and San Jose State.
RETURN TO FORM: Two Redhawks who had not played in a collegiate basketball game since the 2009-10 season are having significant impacts on this year's Seattle U squad. Sophomore Clarence Trent sat out the 2010-11 campaign after transfering from the University of Washington. This season, he is second on the team in scoring with 10.7 points per game and third in rebounding with 4.7 boards per contest. After Seattle U seemingly did not have many dunks last season, Trent has added athleticism and excitement to the program this year. He has reached double figures in scoring nine times, including 16-point efforts at Portland State and at Arkansas State as well as three 15-point performances. Eric Wallace, a senior transfer from DePaul, spent the 2010-11 season rehabbing after suffering a severe leg injury during preseason workouts. Since coming west, Wallace has averaged 9.8 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game. He scored 19 points against Nebraska Omaha and 18 points in games at Montana State and at Utah Valley. Wallace has notched two double-doubles so far this season: 12 points and 15 rebounds against Stanford, and 12 points and 13 rebounds at Arkansas State.
BACK AT JIMMY'S: The Cameron Dollar Coaches Show returns to Jimmy's on Broadway Monday, Jan. 30, beginning at 9 p.m. Hosted by Dave Grosby and Gary Hill, Jr., the show features interviews with Coach Dollar, a selected player, and a selected member of the basketball staff. The show will also be broadcast on 710 ESPN Seattle Monday, Jan. 23, but that will be a taped show as the team travels to California to prepare for its game at UC Irvine the next day.