The scoring of the Seattle University backcourt, combined with tough defense and rebounding, gave the Redhawks a 70-58 victory over the CSUN Matadors Saturday night in a non-conference men’s collegiate basketball game at KeyArena.
Isiah Umipig (Federal Way, Wash.) hit seven three-pointers as he scored 24 points, with Jarell Flora (Bremerton, Wash.) contributing five three-pointers on his way to a 23-point, nine-rebound effort. Jack Crook (Manchester, England) pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with six points and four assists, and William Powell (Huntsville, Ala.) also scored six points, plus he grabbed eight rebounds.
“We’re proud of our overall defense the entire night. When we got to that point in the game where we didn’t execute previously, we toughened up tonight and executed. We came out and really competed on both ends of the floor. I am happy for the guys as they finished it tonight with a win,” Seattle U head coach Cameron Dollar said.
Seattle U jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first two-and-a-half minutes of the game before CSUN went on an 8-3 lead to close its deficit to one at 11-10. Back-to-back three-pointers by Flora and Umipig extended the Redhawk lead to 19-12, but a three-pointer by Ajon Efferson and a jumper from Devonte Elliott allowed the Matadors to come within three at 21-18.
The three-point shot continued to help the Redhawks, as long distance baskets by Umipig, Flora, and Jadon Cohee (Langley, B.C.) assisted in Seattle U establishing a 30-22 advantage with five minutes to go before halftime. CSUN went on a 7-0 scoring run over the next two minutes before a layup by Flora and a three-pointer from Umipig gave the Redhawks a 35-29 lead at halftime.
After Umipig hit a three-pointer to open the second half, CSUN cut the Redhawk lead to five on consecutive jumpers by Stephan Hicks, but Umipig answered with back-to-back three-pointers to give the Redhawks a 46-35 advantage three-and-a-half minutes into the second half.
Down 48-40 after a jumper by Crook, CSUN put together a 9-2 scoring run, including a three-pointer by Landon Drew and a layup by Taelin Webb, to pull to within one at 50-49 with 7:49 left in regulation. Flora hit back-to-back three-pointers to extend the Seattle U lead back to seven, and the Redhawks went 10-for-10 from the free throw line in the final three-and-a-half minutes to put the game away.
CSUN (2-5) was led by Efferson’s 11 points off the bench and Drew with 10 points. Tre Hale-Edmerson finished with 10 points, five rebounds, five assists, six steals, and three blocked shots, but the Matadors shot only 38.3 percent (23-of-60) from the field and lost the rebounding battle to the Redhawks, 40-30.
As a team, Seattle U shot 40.7 percent (22-of-54) from the field, including 13-of-27 from behind the three-point line, and 86.7 percent (13-of-15) from the free throw line. The Redhawks committed 11 turnovers, but CSUN was able to score only seven points off those mistakes, while Seattle U scored eight points off six Matador turnovers.
Seattle University (2-3) makes its yearly trip to Kent, Wash., for the fourth annual ShoWare College Showcase, as they face the Pacific Lutheran Lutes Monday, Dec. 1, starting at 7 p.m. at the ShoWare Center. Tickets for the game are available through the ShoWare Center Box Office, including a $30 ticket package that includes a pregame dinner buffet. The game will also be broadcast on 770 AM KTTH with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill Jr.