Seattle University outscored Cal State Northridge 15-5 over the final six minutes of regulation, using offensive rebounding and overall solid defensive play to pick up its first road victory of the season, 58-53, Thursday night at the Matadome.
The entire game was a see-saw battle, as there were six ties and 13 lead changes, plus the biggest lead either team enjoyed was six points. Eight minutes into the second half, Josh Greene hit a three-pointer to give the Matadors a 40-35 advantage, but two free throws from Clarence Trent (Tacoma, Wash.) and a layup by Deshaun Sunderhaus (Conyers, Ga.) closed the Redhawk deficit to one. Trevone Williams hit a jumper and two free throws to allow Cal State Northridge to reestablish a five-point lead at 48-43 with 6:26 left in regulation.
Jarell Flora (Bremerton, Wash.) scored Seattle U’s next six points to once again bring the Redhawks to within one at 50-49, and then Shore Adenekan (London, England) grabbed an offensive rebound off his own miss and converted on the putback to give Seattle U the lead at 51-50 with 3:39 to go.
Over the next two minutes, the Redhawks pulled down six rebounds to maintain the majority of possession, and Isiah Umipig (Federal Way, Wash.) hit a three-pointer as the shot clock buzzer went off to increase the Seattle U lead to four at 54-50. After a Matador turnover, Umipig made two free throws, and Trent was able to convert on two free throw attempts of his own with eight seconds remaining to ice the game for Seattle U.
Flora led all players with 23 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-7 from behind the three-point line, while Umipig collected 12 points, four rebounds, and five assists, and Trent added 11 points to the winning effort. Seattle U won the rebounding battle, 36-29, led by Jack Crook (Manchester, England) with seven rebounds and Adenekan with six boards to go along with six points.
Cal State Northridge (5-5) took the early lead when Stephan Hicks scored the first three points of the game, followed by an exchange of three-pointers between Trent and Tre Hale-Edmerson. Flora hit a three-pointer five minutes into the game to put the Redhawks ahead, 12-10, but Hale-Edmerson made another long distance shot to put the Matadors back on top.
The first half remained mostly a one-possession contest as the two teams traded baskets, with Hicks making another layup with three minutes remaining to give Cal State Northridge a 24-21 lead. Back-to-back three-pointers from Umipig and Flora pulled the Redhawks ahead, 27-24, but the Matadors scored the final five points of the half, as a traditional three-point play from Aaron Parks and a layup by Greene allowed the home team to take a 29-27 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Hicks led the Matadors with 13 points and three steals, while Hale-Edmerson finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, three blocked shots, and two steals, and Greene contributed 10 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Cal State Northridge shot 44.7 percent (21-of-47) from the field, but hurt itself by missing seven free throw attempts in the game, including two key opportunities from the charity stripe in the second half.
Seattle University (5-3) continues its California road trip with a rematch against Cal State Fullerton Saturday, Dec. 7, starting at 6 p.m. The Redhawks rallied to defeat the Titans Nov. 13 in the Elgin Baylor Classic at KeyArena, 75-71.