The Seattle University men's basketball fought and clawed with one of the top teams in the Western Athletic Conference, but New Mexico State was able to hold on for a 60-57 victory over the Redhawks Saturday night.
After the two teams exchanged baskets in the first minute, Daniel Mullings scored five unanswered points to give New Mexico State the early lead. Back-to-back baskets by Prince Obasi (Reseda, Calif.) and Louis Green (Westchester, Ill.) pulled Seattle U to within one at 11-10, but the Aggies would score six straight points, the last four by Mullings, to pull ahead, 17-10.
The combination of Sim Bhullar and Bandja Sy allowed New Mexico State to take its biggest lead of the first half at 31-22 with seven minutes remaining, but the Redhawks would battle back, closing their deficit to two at 31-29 with 2:17 left in the first half. A basket by Mullings in the final minute helped the Aggies hold on for a 34-30 advantage at halftime.
New Mexico State (17-8, 11-2 WAC) was held without a field goal for the first seven-and-a-half minutes of the second half, as consecutive baskets by Deshaun Sunderhaus (Conyers, Ga.) and a jumper from Chad Rasmussen (University Place, Wash.) put the Redhawks ahead, 36-34. Renaldo Dixon made 5-of-6 free throws, and Terrel de Rouen followed with a three-pointer to put the Aggies back on top, 42-39.
Sunderhaus hit a jumper at the halfway mark of the second half to tie the game at 43-43, but baskets by de Rouen and Mullings gave New Mexico State a four-point advantage. Rasmussen hit a three-pointer with 5:19 remaining in regulation to cause the sixth tie of the game at 50-50, but Sy hit a three-pointer of his own to give the Aggies the lead, 53-50.
New Mexico State went 7-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 3:09 of the game to force the Redhawks to continually play catch-up. Seattle U had possession in the final 30 seconds with a chance to tie the game, but a three-point attempt by Jarell Flora (Bremerton, Wash.) was off target.
Sunderhaus finished the game with 14 points, five rebounds, and a blocked shot, while Rasmussen collected 12 points and five rebounds off the bench. Allen Tate (Hobbs, N.M.), making his first appearance of the season in the starting lineup, thrilled his family and friends with four points and seven rebounds, while Flora, also inserted into the starting five, contributed eight points and five rebounds. Green led the Redhawks in rebounding with eight boards.
Mullings led the Aggies with 18 points and three steals, while Bhullar used his 7-5 frame to earn 14 points, nine rebounds, and four blocked shots. New Mexico State won despite shooting only 34 percent (16-of-47) from the field and 66.7 percent (24-of-34) from the free throw line.
Seattle U shot 39 percent (23-of-59) from the field, including 3-of-8 from behind the three-point line, and 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from the free throw line. The Redhawks won the rebounding battle, 44-34, and cut down on their turnovers from Thursday, committing only 15 turnovers that led to just 12 Aggie points.
Seattle University (7-16, 2-11 WAC) returns home for the final two games of the regular season at KeyArena, first facing conference leader Louisiana Tech Thursday, Feb. 14, beginning at 7 p.m. The Redhawks will then host UT Arlington on Senior Night Saturday, Feb. 16, also starting at 7 p.m. at KeyArena. Tickets for both games are on sale online through Ticketmaster or the men's basketball ticket page on GoSeattleU.com.