It was a team effort for the Seattle University men's basketball team as the Redhawks jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 90-58 victory over Northwest University Tuesday night at KeyArena.
The Seattle U bench outscored the Northwest reserves, 51-23, led by Jarell Flora (Bremerton, Wash.) with 15 points and Chad Rasmussen (University Place, Wash.) with 13 points. Sterling Carter (Seattle, Wash.) contributed 10 points and five rebounds, while Allen Tate (Hobbs, N.M.) played the most of any Redhawk, finishing with six points, three rebounds, four assists, and six steals in 28 minutes of action.
"The team came out with a lot of good energy tonight. Our bench guys did a good job of coming in and making significant contributions," Seattle U head coach Cameron Dollar said. "We need to continue to move the ball and maintain our rhythm, but I think the guys will be focused and ready."
Seattle U started out the game by scoring 14 of the first 15 points, including eight points by Aaron Broussard (Federal Way, Wash.), followed by another 20-3 scoring run that gave the Redhawks a 34-7 advantage with nine minutes left in the first half. Seattle U scored 10 unanswered points later in the first half to extend its advantage to 44-12, but Northwest responded with an 11-0 run, highlighted by three three-pointers from Rich Skillman, to close the gap to 19 at 44-23.
The Redhawks scored the final seven points of the first half to go into the locker room with a 51-23 halftime lead. In the game, Seattle U shot 54.4 percent (37-of-68) from the field, including 7-of-14 from behind the three-point line, and enjoyed a significant 52-27 rebounding edge, which offset the fact that the Redhawks committed 25 turnovers in the game.
After Jordan Call hit a three-pointer to start the second half for Northwest, Seattle U went on a 10-1 run to take its biggest lead of the game at 61-27. Both teams spent the rest of the game working on their execution, with the Redhawks facing Pepperdine and UC Davis in the next week, while Northwest is preparing for the postseason in the NAIA.
Clarence Trent (Tacoma, Wash.) and Eric Wallace (Winston-Salem, N.C.) also scored eight points apiece, with Wallace leading the team with seven rebounds and two blocked shots. T.J. Diop (Queensland, Australia) contributed seven points and six rebounds, Gavin Gilmore (Pasco, Wash.) collected six points and five rebounds, and Prince Obasi (Reseda, Calif.) earned six assists to lead the Redhawks.
Skillman led the Eagles with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists, with Call finishing with 13 points and Nemanja Grujicic contributing 12 points, five rebounds, and three steals off the bench. Northwest shot only 28.1 percent (18-of-64) from the field, including 12-of-49 from behind the three-point line.
Seattle University (8-14) continues the three-game homestand Thursday, Feb. 16, as it welcomes the Pepperdine Waves to KeyArena for a 7:10 p.m. tipoff. It is a Blackout game, as all Redhawk fans are encouraged to wear black shirts to match the black jerseys the team will wear for the first time ever at home.