Seattle University Redhawks (3-2, 0-0 WAC) at
Eastern Washington University Eagles (4-2, 0-0 Big Sky)
Friday, November 29, 2013 - 6:05 p.m. PST - Reese Court - Cheney, Washington
770 AM KTTH The Truth (Dave Grosby, Gary Hill Jr.) - Live Stats/Video: GoEags.com
GAME #6: Seattle University makes the short trip across the state to face the Eastern Washington Eagles the night after Thanksgiving. The Redhawks are coming off a close victory over UC Riverside and are looking for their first road victory of the season. Last season, Seattle U earned their first road win at Eastern Washington, and the Redhawks will look for a similar result in Cheney this time around.
THE UC RIVERSIDE GAME: Seattle University opened the game on a 10-0 scoring run, but needed to hold off a last-second scoring attempt by UC Riverside to defeat the Highlanders, 69-68, Monday night at KeyArena. UC Riverside responded to the opening Redhawk run by outscoring the home team, 24-7, before Seattle U rallied back with its own 21-7 scoring run just before halftime. The Redhawks were ahead by six with three minutes left in the second half, but the Highlanders closed their deficit to one and had a chance to win the game as time expired. However, Chris Patton missed a jumper at the end of regulation. Clarence Trent led all players with 19 points while Isiah Umipig and D’Vonne Pickett Jr. also scored in double figures, adding 17 points and 10 points, respectively. Steven Thornton led UC Riverside with 18 points. UC Riverside narrowly led from field goal range (45.5 percent to 44.4 percent) and from behind the three-point line (36.0 percent to 28.6 percent) while the Redhawks led from the free-throw line (85.0 percent to 56.3 percent).
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 5:50 p.m. Friday. Live stats and live video will be available on Eastern Washington’s athletics website, www.GoEags.com.
SEATTLE U VS. THE BIG SKY: This will be the only game the Redhawks will play against a member of the Big Sky Conference this season. Last season, Seattle U was 2-0 against the Big Sky with wins over Montana State and Eastern Washington.
SCOUTING EASTERN WASHINGTON: The Eagles come into Friday’s game with a 4-2 overall record after winning two of three games in the Irvine subregional of the 2K Sports Classic. Eastern Washington defeated Boston University (80-68) and LIU Brooklyn (102-70) before losing to host UC Irvine (81-58). The same starting lineup has been used for all six games, and all five players are averaging at least 10 points per game. Tyler Harvey is averaging 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, followed by Venky Jois with 15.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. Drew Brandon is contributing 11.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Parker Kelly is scoring 10.5 points per game, and Martin Seiferth has added 10.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. As a team, Eastern Washington is shooting 49.6 percent from the field, including 40.6 percent from behind the three-point line, and 61.6 percent from the free throw line.
SERIES HISTORY: Seattle University and Eastern Washington will be meeting for the 19th time in history, with the Eagles holding a 10-8 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 split the season series over the next two years, with each team winning on its home floor. On Jan. 16, 2012, Seattle U defeated EWU, 91-78, at KeyArena, with Aaron Broussard scoring 34 points and Sterling Carter adding 26 points for the Redhawks.
LAST MEETING: In a true team effort, eight different Seattle University players earned at least six points as the Redhawks earned a 75-69 victory over Eastern Washington Dec. 10, 2012, at Reese Court. Chad Rasmussen hit four three-pointers as he led the team with 16 points, while Clarence Trent finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. Deshaun Sunderhaus scored all 10 of his points in the second half, and Prince Obasi contributed nine points and a team-high seven assists.