GAME #20: Seattle University makes the short trip to Moscow, Idaho, to face the Vandals. Since they started playing a full Division I schedule in the 2009-10 season, the Redhawks have played Idaho every year, one of three opponents that have appeared on the Seattle U regular season schedule every season of the new Division I era (Eastern Washington and Washington are the other two schools). A victory is key for the Redhawks to carry positive momentum into a stretch of home games.
THE GRAND CANYON GAME: Seattle University cut a double-digit lead down to four, but the Redhawks could not get any closer, as Grand Canyon held on for a 71-63 victory last Saturday night at the GCU Arena in Phoenix. Down 43-25 three minutes into the second half, the Redhawks put together an 18-4 scoring run over the next seven minutes to close their deficit to four at 47-43 halfway through the second half. William Powell and Emmanuel Chibuogwu led the charge with five points apiece. Grand Canyon settled down, starting with a traditional three-point play by Jerome Garrison, and extended its lead back to nine at 58-49 with less than four minutes left in regulation. A traditional three-point play from Powell brought the Redhawks back to within four at 59-55, but Garrison hit a three-pointer with 2:19 remaining in the second half, and the Antelopes would go 5-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to close out the contest. Powell led the Redhawks with nine points, plus he pulled down four rebounds and earned two steals. Jack Crook finished with seven points and seven rebounds, and D’Vonne Pickett Jr. also collected seven points to go along with four assists. Clarence Trent and Isiah Umipig scored seven points apiece as well, while Chibuogwu contributed six points and six rebounds. For the game, Seattle U shot 34.4 percent from the field (22-of-64), including 4-of-17 from behind the three-point line, and 55.6 percent from the free throw line (15-of-27). The Redhawks pulled down 21 offensive rebounds as part of a 46-37 rebounding edge and scored 20 points off 11 Grand Canyon turnovers.
SCOUTING IDAHO: The Vandals come into Saturday’s game with an 8-13 overall record, including a 2-5 mark within the Western Athletic Conference. Idaho has not played since losing at Grand Canyon Thursday, Jan. 23, 86-73. The Vandals are scoring 70.5 points per game and giving up 74.3 points per contest. As a team, Idaho is shooting 43.1 percent from the field, including 34.7 percent from behind the three-point line, and 68.0 percent from the free throw line. Stephen Madison leads the team with 17.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Madison has been getting to the free throw line over seven times per game, hitting 75 percent of his attempts from the charity stripe. Connor Hill leads the Vandals with 55 made three-pointers as part of a scoring average of 14.1 points per game, and Mike Scott has contributed 10.9 points per game in conference play.
SERIES HISTORY: Seattle University and Idaho are meeting for the 29th time in the history of the two basketball programs, with the Northwest schools tied at 14 wins apiece. After Idaho won four of the first five meetings between 1949-50 and 1960-61, Seattle U held a 12-game winning streak in the series between 1961-62 and 1968-69. Idaho would win the next five meetings. starting in 1985-86, continuing in 1992-93 and 1993-94, and extended further with two Idaho victories during the 2009-10 campaign. Seattle U defeated Idaho in the 2010 Elgin Baylor Classic at KeyArena, but the Vandals have responded with five straight wins in the series, starting with a 78-69 victory March 5, 2011, in Moscow. Idaho swept the season series in 2011-12. In the first game as WAC rivals last season, Idaho rallied from a seven-point deficit with six minutes remaining in the second half to defeat Seattle U, 71-64, at KeyArena. Kyle Barone notched a double-double in leading the Vandals with 25 points and 11 rebounds. D’Vonne Pickett Jr. led the Redhawks with 17 points and six rebounds, shooting 8-of-12 from the field. In the rematch at the Cowan Spectrum, the Vandals held off a Redhawk rally for a 76-72 victory. Barone earned another double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds, while McChristian collected 26 points, seven assists, and four steals. Chad Rasmussen led the Redhawks with 16 points, while Pickett came off the bench and contributed 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists.