A combination of solid defense and career-best offensive efforts from juniors Isiah Umipig (Federal Way, Wash.) and Shore Adenekan (London, England) led to Seattle University’s 77-53 victory over UC Davis Monday night in men’s collegiate basketball action at KeyArena at Seattle Center.
Umipig shot 8-of-16 from the field, including 6-of-11 from behind the three-point line, and 8-of-9 from the free throw line to finish with 30 points, the first Redhawk player to score at least 30 points in a single game since Aaron Broussard scored 33 at Longwood Feb. 11, 2012. Adenekan went 6-of-7 from the field on his way to a 16-point effort, plus he pulled down five rebounds and blocked five shots, another single-game milestone that had not been achieved by a Seattle U player since Eric Wallace blocked five Pepperdine shots Feb. 16, 2012.
UC Davis (3-6) took a 6-2 lead four minutes into the game before Adenekan and Umipig combined on a 7-0 Redhawk run that put Seattle U in front, 9-6. After baskets by Georgi Funtarov and Iggy Nujic allowed the Aggies to retake the lead at 10-9, Adenekan and Umipig once again combined for six straight Redhawk points to put the home team on top for good.
After the Aggies closed their deficit to two at 19-17 with 9:17 remaining in the first half on a layup by Josh Ritchart, the Redhawks rattled off 14 points in a row, starting with back-to-back dunks by Adenekan and punctuated by a three-pointer from Umipig. Seattle U would score the final five points of the first half on a three-pointer by Clarence Trent (Tacoma, Wash.) and two free throws by Umipig to go into the locker room at halftime on top, 38-20.
Ritchart hit two three-pointers early in the second half as the Aggies went on a 9-2 scoring run to close the Redhawk lead to 11 at 40-29, but Umipig scored Seattle U’s next 10 points to extend the lead back to 17 at 50-33 six minutes into the second half. The Redhawks continued to increase their lead throughout the remainder of the game, scoring the final five points of the contest to create the final 24-point margin.
Jack Crook (Manchester, England) also reached double digits in scoring with 10 points, while Trent finished with five points, a team-high seven rebounds, two assists, and four steals. As a team, the Redhawks shot a season-best 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the field, including 7-of-20 from behind the three-point line, and 64.0 percent (16-of-25) from the free throw line. Also, Seattle U won the rebounding battle, 36-32, and committed only 10 turnovers while dishing out 16 assists, led by five assists from D’Vonne Pickett Jr. (Seattle, Wash.).
“It was a really good defensive effort, especially in the first half. It was good to come back home and have that type of effort, especially in guarding the three-point shot,” Seattle U head coach Cameron Dollar said.
Ritchart led the Aggies with 14 points and six rebounds, while Corey Hawkins earned 12 points, three assists, a blocked shot, and two steals. UC Davis was held to 33.9 percent (19-of-56) shooting from the field, including 7-of-27 from behind the three-point line, plus the Aggies committed 16 turnovers, leading to 19 Redhawk points.
Seattle University (4-3) hits the road over the weekend, facing Cal State Northridge Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m., and Cal State Fullerton Saturday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on 770 AM KTTH, with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill Jr. providing the broadcast starting with the pregame show shortly before tipoff.