REGAINING MOMENTUM: Seattle University looks to get back on the winning track tonight as it hosts Cal State Northridge at KeyArena, the final game in the season-opening five-game homestand for the Redhawks. Seattle U has held the lead at halftime of all four games so far this season, but has been able to complete the job only once. CSU Northridge is the first of four Big West Conference opponents Seattle U will face in 2014-15. Last season the Redhawks were 5-1 against Big West schools.
APL.DE.AP TO PERFORM AT HALFTIME DEC. 6: The Seattle University athletics department has partnered with Apl.de.ap (pronounced "Apple Dee Ap"), best known as a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning group The Black Eyed Peas. This collaboration is focused on bringing awareness and raising funds to aid in the continuing efforts of the Apl.de.ap Foundation on the ground one year after Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines. The campaign will feature an exclusive experience and performance on Dec. 6 at KeyArena as the Seattle University men’s basketball team takes on Eastern Washington. The only way for fans to catch the performance is by buying a ticket to the game, which is on sale at Ticketmaster and the KeyArena Box Office. A limited number of pre-game VIP experiences are also available through Ticketmaster for $80 for anyone with a ticket already ordered or $100 if being purchased at the same time as the game ticket. Plus, the Redhawks will be facing an Eastern Washington squad that just defeated Indiana on the road.
SCOUTING CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE: The Matadors enter the week with a 2-3 record, as they host Portland State Wednesday night before making the trip north to face the Redhawks. After suffering losses to nationally-ranked San Diego State and Arizona on the road, CSU Northridge defeated Montana State and Samford by seven points each before losing in double overtime to Arkansas-Little Rock. As a team, the Matadors are shooting 47.0 percent from the field, including 26.5 percent from behind the three-point line, and 74.4 percent from the free throw line. Stephen Maxwell is leading the Matadors in several categories, averaging 19.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, plus he is shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 86.7 percent from the free throw line. Stephan Hicks is contributing 18.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as he is shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 80.0 percent from the free throw line. Landon Drew leads the team in assists, averaging 5.0 assists per game, while Tre Hale-Edmerson is averaging 1.8 blocked shots per game to go along with 6.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest. Along with those four, Aaron Parks has started every game so far this season for the Matadors, averaging 9.8 points per game.
SERIES HISTORY: Seattle University and Cal State Northridge are meeting for the seventh time in history, with the Redhawks holding a 4-2 series edge over the Matadors. Cal State Northridge won the first meeting on Jan. 7, 1995, by a score of 88-75 in Northridge, Calif. The next meeting did not take place until 15 years later, as the two squads played home-and-home in both 2009-10 and 2010-11. On Jan. 11, 2010, Cal State Northridge held off Seattle U for a 98-90 victory at the Matadome despite 34 points and 14 rebounds from Charles Garcia. Eight days later at KeyArena, Seattle University overcame a cold first half in the shooting department, hitting 60 percent of its field goal attempts in the second half for a 74-64 victory over Cal State Northridge. The next season, Seattle U swept the season series from Cal State Northridge, starting with a 65-58 victory Jan. 8, 2011, at KeyArena. On Jan. 19, 2011, back at the Matadome, both teams scored 10 more points than in the previous meeting, but Seattle U once again prevailed, 75-68. Last season, on Thursday, Dec. 5, Seattle U outscored Cal State Northridge 15-5 over the final six minutes of regulation, using offensive rebounding and overall solid defensive play to win, 58-53, at the Matadome. Jarell Flora led all players with 23 points in the Redhawk victory.