GAME #25: Seattle University begins a key three-game homestand Thursday night against Grand Canyon University. Although Grand Canyon is not eligible to compete in the WAC Tournament, the Antelopes will play a role in determining the seeding of the other eight teams, including the Redhawks, who can finish anywhere from the third seed to the eighth seed heading into the final three weekends of the regular season.
SCOUTING GRAND CANYON: The Antelopes come into Thursday’s game with a 12-11 overall record, including a 7-3 conference record good enough for third place in the league standings. Grand Canyon has won five of its last six games, but has not played since a 79-70 victory over Bakersfield on Feb. 8. The Antelopes are averaging 71.5 points per game and giving up 70.0 points per contest. As a team, Grand Canyon is shooting 43.1 percent from the field, including 35.1 percent from behind the three-point line, and 74.5 percent from the free throw line, 29th in the country. Jerome Garrison leads the team at 16.1 points per game, including a .796 free throw shooting percentage. Killian Larson is averaging a double-double with 15.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, plus he is shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 77.7 percent from the free throw line. Daniel Alexander is contributing 12.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.8 blocked shots per game.
SERIES HISTORY: This is the third meeting all-time between Seattle U and Grand Canyon, but the first taking place in Seattle. The Antelopes have won the previous two contests, defeating the Redhawks 78-77 on Dec. 17, 2002, and 71-63 earlier this season.
HONORING A LEGEND: Longtime high school basketball coach Ed Pepple will be honored during the night. Ed Pepple retired from high school basketball coaching in 2009 after 52 years. He won 952 games and four state championship titles while becoming the basketball coach with the most wins in state history. Nearly 50 of his players went on to play in college and two played in the NBA.
WAC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: All-session tickets for the WAC Basketball Tournament March 12-15 at the Orleans Arena are now available at (206) 398-GOSU. Join the Seattle U men’s and women’s basketball teams as they play for the WAC Tournament title and the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The women’s quarterfinals take place Wednesday, March 12, with the men’s quarterfinals scheduled for Thursday, March 13. The semifinals in both brackets are set for Friday, March 14. The women’s title game is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, at 1 p.m., followed by the men’s championship contest at 7 p.m., with both games broadcast by ESPNU.
QUICK FACT: Isiah Umipig has moved into fourth place on the Seattle U single-season list for made three-pointers with 79 long distance baskets. Aaron Waite holds the record with 89 in 1989-90.