A TRAVELING BAND: After playing its first six games of the 2014-15 season in the Puget Sound region, Seattle University makes its first true road trip of the year this week, heading to Santa Barbara, Calif., to face the UCSB Gauchos Thursday night. Almost the entire active roster saw action Monday night, allowing the starters to get some rest entering a busy weekend.
THE PACIFIC LUTHERAN GAME: Seattle University was able to use different combinations on the court Monday night, all of them showing stifling defense as the Redhawks defeated the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, 72-33, in the fourth annual ShoWare College Classic at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. Jarell Flora hit four three-pointers as he led the Redhawks with 16 points and four assists, while Jack Crook notched a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, plus he dished out three assists. Manroop Clair came off the bench and hit four three-pointers of his own to finish with 12 points, five rebounds, and two steals
APL.DE.AP TO PERFORM AT HALFTIME SATURDAY: 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 this Saturday, 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 UC SANTA BARBARA: The Gauchos come into Thursday’s game with a 3-3 overall record after advancing to the title game of the Great Alaska Shootout with victories over Washington State and Mercer before losing a close contest to Colorado State, 65-63. UCSB hung with nationally-ranked Kansas before losing by 10 in the season opener, and then lost in overtime at Florida Gulf Coast. As a team, the Gauchos are scoring 70.7 points per game and giving up 60.5 points per contest. UCSB is shooting 44.1 percent from the field, including 34.6 percent from behind the three-point line, and 73.1 percent from the free throw line. Alan Williams is leading the team with 19.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocked shots per game. Michael Bryson is averaging 11.7 points per game, and John Green is contributing 10.8 points per game off the bench for the Gauchos.
SERIES HISTORY: This is the ninth meeting all-time between Seattle University and UC Santa Barbara, with Seattle U holding a 5-3 series advantage. The two teams played each other every season from 1963-64 through 1967-68, with Seattle U winning all five meetings. UC Santa Barbara earned its first victory over Seattle U at home during the 1969-70 campaign, a 105-98 victory. These teams met each other in the 1977-78 season on the first day of the UNLV Classic in Las Vegas, with UCSB earning the 58-55 victory. They would not see each other again on the basketball court until Dec. 30, 2013, when UC Santa Barbara defeated Seattle U at KeyArena, 86-70. Isiah Umipig led the Redhawks with 24 points, with Emerson Murray contributing 20 points off the bench. Alan Williams led the Gauchos with 27 points and eight rebounds, with Kyle Boswell hitting five three-pointers on his way to a 19-point performance. UC Santa Barbara took advantage of its free throw opportunities, going 34-for-39 (87.2%) from the charity stripe.