Although the five-game homestand ended for Seattle University Saturday night, the men's basketball team will not need to travel far for its next contest, making the annual trip south to the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash., for the fourth annual ShoWare College Showcase, taking on the Pacific Lutheran Lutes Monday, Dec. 1, starting at 7 p.m.
The Redhawks are coming off a 70-58 victory over CSU Northridge Saturday night at KeyArena, led by the backcourt of Isiah Umipig (Federal Way, Wash.) and Jarell Flora (Bremerton, Wash.) combining for 47 points, including 12 three-pointers. Seattle U once again got off to a good start, taking the lead into halftime for the fifth straight game, but this time the Redhawks did not allow their opponent to complete its comeback, as Seattle U never lost the lead during the night.
Pacific Lutheran comes into Monday's game with a 1-3 record after losing to St. Olaf last Friday, 77-64. As a team, the Lutes are averaging 62.2 points per game and giving up 68.8 points per contest. PLU is shooting 39.3 percent from the field, including 40.7 percent from behind the three-point line, and 64.3 percent from the free throw line.
Dylan Foreman leads the Lutes with 16.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, as he is shooting 52.6 percent from the field, including 10-of-17 from behind the three-point line, and 77.8 percent from the free throw line. Brandon Lester is scoring 12.8 points per game, and Bryce Miller is contributing 9.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
In official meetings, Pacific Lutheran holds the series edge over Seattle U, 30-26. The majority of the games between the two schools came during the 1980s and 1990s, when both squads were NAIA members. Last season at KeyArena, the Redhawks outscored the Lutes 30-6 over an 11-minute span in the first half on their way to a 66-38 victory. Umipig and Emerson Murray (Vancouver, B.C.) scored 10 points apiece, while Deshaun Sunderhaus (Conyers, Ga.) and William Powell (Huntsville, Ala.) finished with eight points and nine rebounds each.
Seattle U is 2-1 in its previous appearances in the ShoWare College Showcase, rallying from a seven-point deficit with 3:19 remaining in regulation by scoring the final 10 points of the game to defeat Norfolk State last season, 70-67. On Nov. 28, 2011, the Redhawks defeated Evergreen State, 77-54, before losing to CSU Bakersfield March 6, 2013, in overtime, 75-74.
Tickets are available through the ShoWare Center (www.showarecenter.com), with general admission tickets costing $10, a courtside seat going for $25, and a VIP ticket that includes a dinner buffet costing $30. The game will also be broadcast on 770 AM KTTH, with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill Jr. calling the contest from courtside starting 15 minutes before tipoff.