Seattle University attempted to work its way back into its Western Athletic Conference opener, but Utah Valley University built a significant lead in the first half and was able to maintain its advantage throughout the second half on the way to a 70-52 victory Saturday night in men’s collegiate basketball action at the UCCU Center.
William Powell (Huntsville, Ala.) notched his first career double-double, leading the Redhawks with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Jadon Cohee (Langley, B.C.) finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Jack Crook (Manchester, England) collected nine points, but Isiah Umipig (Federal Way, Wash.) and Jarell Flora (Bremerton, Wash.) were held to seven points apiece, as the WAC leaders in made three-pointers were held to just one long distance basket combined in the game.
Marcel Davis opened the game with a three-pointer, and Donte Williams followed with a layup to give Utah Valley a 5-0 lead two minutes into the game. The Wolverines extended their lead to 13-6 on a three-pointer by Chad Ross and a jumper from Mitch Bruneel, but the Redhawks scored six unanswered points, four of them from Powell, to close their deficit to one at 13-12.
Over the final nine minutes of the first half, Utah Valley outscored Seattle U 25-2, with Bruneel scoring 18 of those points, including four three-pointers. The Wolverines dominated the boards in the first half, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds leading to 16 second chance points.
The Redhawks opened the second half with a 15-4 scoring run to close its deficit to 42-29 with 14:25 left in the second half, but the Wolverines responded with a traditional three-point play by Zach Nelson and a three-pointer from Jaden Jackson. Traditional three-point plays from Flora, Powell, and Shore Adenekan (London, England) brought Seattle U to within 11 at 49-38, but Bruneel scored five straight points to keep the Wolverine lead in double figures.
A three-point play by Emmanuel Chibuogwu (Seattle, Wash.) once again cut the Utah Valley lead to 11 with 4:53 left in regulation, but another 6-0 Wolverine run over the next minute-and-a-half get the Redhawks at a distance. Utah Valley iced the game by going 10-for-12 from the free throw line over the final two minutes.
Bruneel led Utah Valley (6-9, 1-0 WAC) with a double-double, scoring 27 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, while Williams contributed 15 points to the winning effort. As a team, the Wolverines shot 37.0 percent (20-of-54) from the field, including 8-of-23 from behind the three-point line, and 78.6 percent (22-of-28) from the free throw line.
The Redhawks shot 41.7 percent (20-of-48) from the field, including just 1-of-14 from behind the three-point line, and 73.3 percent (11-of-15) from the free throw line. During the game, Seattle U committed 16 turnovers, leading to 17 Wolverine points, while the Redhawks were able to score just seven points off 10 Utah Valley turnovers. The Wolverines also won the rebounding battle, 39-29.
Seattle University (7-8, 0-1 WAC) returns to KeyArena for its first conference home games of the season next weekend, welcoming Texas-Pan American Thursday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m., followed by a contest against preseason league favorite New Mexico State Saturday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the seven WAC home games are available through Ticketmaster and the KeyArena Box Office.