GAME #5: Seattle University treats the city of Seattle to some Monday night basketball three times over the next six weeks, beginning with a contest against the UC Riverside Highlanders. The Redhawks are coming off a loss to a talented Boise State squad, while UC Riverside comes to the Pacific Northwest after a contest at Southern Utah this past Saturday. Seattle U will face four Big West schools over the next five contests.
THE BOISE STATE GAME: Seattle University stayed in the game for most of the night, but Boise State was able to pull away for an 86-68 victory last Tuesday night at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho. A three-pointer from Jarell Flora and a layup by Isiah Umipig tied the game at 19-19, but Jeff Elorriaga nailed consecutive three-pointers as the Broncos outscored the Redhawks, 20-7, to take their biggest lead of the half at 39-26. Flora converted a four-point play, hitting his fourth three-pointer of the opening half while being fouled, and William Powell hit a layup to cut the Seattle U deficit to seven at 39-32 at halftime. Seattle U cut into Boise State’s lead, as a floater by Umipig and Flora’s fifth three-pointer of the game pulled the Redhawks to within three at 46-43. However, two three-pointers by Elorriaga as well as one from Drmic helped Boise State extend its lead back to 10 points at 57-47 eight minutes into the second half. The Broncos were able to pull away midway through the second half thanks to a 10-1 scoring run. Flora led the Redhawks with 21 points, hitting six three-pointers during the night, while Jack Crook notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Umipig also finished with 10 points, plus he dished out eight assists, and Deshaun Sunderhaus came off the bench and contributed 11 points and five rebounds.
WHERE TO FIND THE GAME: 770 AM KTTH The Truth will broadcast all Seattle U men’s basketball games live, with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill Jr. courtside starting with the pregame show at 6:45 p.m. Monday. The game will also be shown live on ROOT Sports, with Brad Adam, Bill Krueger, and Jen Mueller calling the action from event level.
SCOUTING UC RIVERSIDE: The Highlanders started the season 1-2, losing at San Diego State (77-41) and to Pepperdine (69-66) before defeating Montana State, 72-67. UC Riverside plays Southern Utah in Cedar City, Utah, Saturday, Nov. 23, before coming to Seattle to face the Redhawks. As a team, the Highlanders are shooting 41.0 percent from the field, including 19.4 percent from behind the three-point line, and 59.5 percent from the free throw line. Taylor Johns has been by far the team’s leading player so far this season, averaging 19.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. Johns is shooting 65.7 percent (23-of-35) from the field, but only 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from the free throw line. Dennis Cutts is the interim head coach of UC Riverside after six seasons as an assistant with the Highlanders along with stints on the staffs at San Jose State, Kansas State, Northern Arizona, and Stephen F. Austin
PREVIOUS MEETING: This is only the second meeting all-time between Seattle University and UC Riverside, and the first in Seattle. On Nov. 22, 1996, in Riverside, Calif., UCR defeated Seattle U, 75-46. At the time, Seattle U was a NAIA program.