SECOND SEASON BEGINS: Seattle University has used the first half of the 2014-15 season to prepare for the next 14 games, as the Western Athletic Conference schedule starts this Saturday with the Redhawks heading to Utah to face Utah Valley, the defending WAC regular season champion. There is extra incentive to win the conference title this season, as the top seed in the seven-team WAC Tournament receives a bye into the semifinals and will have to win only two games to earn the tournament title and the automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. This is the first of four weekends in which the Redhawks will play only one game, giving the team some extra rest and practice time as the conference season moves along.
THE CAL STATE FULLERTON GAME: Seattle University allowed an early run by Cal State Fullerton, and the Titans were able to maintain their advantage the rest of the night to defeat the Redhawks, 67-55, last Saturday night at Titan Gym in Fullerton, Calif. Jack Crook scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 shooting from the free throw line. Isiah Umipig was held scoreless in the first half before collecting 11 points in the second half, and Jarell Flora finished with nine points on three three-pointers along with a team-high seven rebounds. The Redhawks shot 45.8 percent from the field (22-of-48), including 6-of-15 from behind the three-point line, and 45.5 percent from the free throw line (5-of-11). Seattle U won the rebounding battle, 32-30, but committed 14 turnovers that led to 18 Titan points.
WHERE TO FIND THE GAME: Saturday’s game between Seattle U and Utah Valley will be streamed online through the WAC Digital Network (www.wacsports.com/watch). It will also be broadcast live on 770 AM KTTH, with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill Jr. calling the action from courtside starting with the pregame show shortly before tipoff.
SCOUTING UTAH VALLEY: The Wolverines enter Saturday’s game with a 5-9 overall record after losing at SEC school Arkansas last Saturday, 79-46. Utah Valley won three of its first four games of the season, but has gone 2-8 since Thanksgiving. The Wolverines are scoring 57.6 points per game while giving up 65.4 points per contest. As a team, Utah Valley is shooting 39.0 percent from the field, including 28.4 percent from behind the three-point line, and 68.7 percent from the free throw line. Mitch Bruneel leads the team with 12.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as he is shooting 50.9 percent from the field. Marcel Davis leads the team with 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game to go along with 7.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
SEATTLE U VS. UTAH VALLEY: The series between Seattle U and Utah Valley is tied at 4-4 heading into Saturday’s contest. The teams first met during the 2009-10 season, with Seattle U winning both meetings: 66-63 at KeyArena and 74-64 at the UCCU Center. In 2010-11, Utah Valley earned its first victory of the series in Orem, 89-73, before Seattle U took the rematch in Seattle, 63-57. Utah Valley swept the season series in 2011-12 with two victories in the span of a week: 77-72 in Orem and 84-74 in Seattle. After not meeting in 2012-13, the Redhawks and Wolverines faced off as conference foes twice last season. On Jan. 19 in Seattle, Mitch Bruneel hit two free throws with two seconds remaining in regulation to give Utah Valley a 52-51 victory. Bruneel led the Wolverines with 20 points, while Deshaun Sunderhaus paced the Redhawks with 12 points and seven rebounds. In the rematch Feb. 13 in Orem, Seattle U took the lead for good halfway through the first half and pulled away for a 71-57 win. Isiah Umipig hit seven three-pointers as he finished with 32 points and seven rebounds, while Ben Aird led Utah Valley with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three blocked shots.