The Seattle University men’s basketball team enjoyed a solid first half, but Texas State was able to take advantage of Redhawk turnovers early in the second half to come from behind for a 62-53 victory over Seattle U Friday night in a non-conference contest at KeyArena at Seattle Center.
Isiah Umipig (Federal Way, Wash.) hit seven three-pointers as he led the Redhawks with 23 points, while Deshaun Sunderhaus (Conyers, Ga.) contributed 10 points off the bench and Jarell Flora (Bremerton, Wash.) earned nine points and six rebounds. After shooting 50 percent from the field in the first half (12-of-24), the Redhawks were held to 35.3 percent field goal shooting after halftime (6-of-17) and committed 12 turnovers in the second half that led to 16 Bobcat points.
After Texas State took an early lead on a traditional three-point play from Kavin Tilbury, the Redhawks outscored the Bobcats 20-9 over the next 11-and-a-half minutes, led by Umipig with eight points and punctuated with back-to-back three-pointers by Flora. Three straight three-pointers by Umipig further extended the Seattle U lead to its biggest of the night at 33-21 with three minutes left in the first half, but Texas State scored the final five points before halftime on a jumper by Cameron Naylor and a three-pointer from Wes Davis to close its deficit to seven at 33-26.
Texas State (1-0) continued its run in the first two minutes of the second half, highlighted by a three-pointer from D.J. Brown to cut the Seattle U lead to one at 33-32. After a dunk by Elgin Baylor Classic MVP Emani Gant tied the game at 37-37, Umipig hit a three-pointer and Jack Crook (Manchester, England) made two free throws to give the Redhawks a five-point advantage seven minutes into the second half.
The two teams traded baskets until the seven-minute mark, when Texas State scored six straight points as Naylor hit back-to-back jumpers and JaMarcus Weatherspoon hit a jumper of his own to give the Bobcats a 51-48 lead. The Redhawks scored only five points in the final five minutes as Texas State went 7-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 42 seconds to complete the victory.
Gant led the Bobcats with 17 points and three assists, plus he earned three steals, while Brown scored 15 points and Tilbury added 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists to the winning effort. Texas State shot 43.1 percent from the field in the game (22-of-51) and committed only two turnovers after halftime.
Seattle University (0-1) hosts Nebraska Omaha Wednesday, Nov. 19, starting at 7 p.m. at KeyArena at Seattle Center. Tickets are still available for all remaining Redhawk home basketball games through Ticketmaster or at the KeyArena Box Office, plus the game will be broadcast live on 770 AM KTTH with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill Jr.