LOOKING TO SHOW OUT AT SHOWARE: After picking up its first victory of the 2015-16 season, Seattle University makes its annual trip south to Kent, Wash., for the fifth annual ShoWare College Classic, this year welcoming the University of Great Falls to the home of the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. The Redhawks showed tough defense in Monday’s game, something that they will hang their hat on throughout the season.
THE SECOND EASTERN WASHINGTON GAME: Thanks to a combination of tough defense against one of the highest scoring teams in the country and improved offensive output in the second half, Seattle University earned a 58-52 victory over Eastern Washington Monday night at KeyArena at Seattle Center. Four Redhawks reached double figures in scoring, led by senior Jack Crook with 17 points and eight rebounds. William Powell and Brendan Westendorf each earned 10 points and seven rebounds, with Westendorf also dishing out six assists, and Jadon Cohee also finished with 10 points. Down 39-34 halfway through the second half, Seattle U erased that deficit in the next minute, first with a steal and layup by Malik Montoya, and then on a three-pointer by Cohee. Sir Washington hit a jumper to put the Eagles back on top, 42-40, but three Redhawk free throws and a traditional three-point play from Crook gave Seattle U the lead, 46-44, with 5:46 remaining in regulation. Bogdan Bliznyuk hit a jumper to tie the game, but Westendorf responded with his own traditional three-point play. Eastern Washington answered that with a three-pointer by Austin McBroom, and then again with 2:57 left in the second half when Bliznyuk hit a three-pointer to cause the 12th tie of the game at 52-52. After both teams missed opportunities in the next two minutes, Crook converted on a layup while being fouled, and then made the free throw to give Seattle U another three-point advantage at 55-52 with 48 seconds left in regulation. The Eagles turned the ball over, leading to a made free throw by Crook, and then Montoya executed another steal and fast-break layup to seal Seattle U’s first victory of the season.
SCOUTING GREAT FALLS: The University of Great Falls is an NAIA program from Great Falls, Montana, competing in the Frontier Conference. The Argonauts will consider Wednesday’s game against the Redhawks an exhibition game, as they did with a 78-72 loss to Idaho State on Nov. 13, a game in which Great Falls held a 42-28 lead at halftime before Idaho State closed out the game with a 17-4 scoring run. Against the Bengals, Lamar Falley led the Argonauts with 16 points, with Daniel Arcau contributing 11 points and six rebounds. In regular season games, the Argonauts are 5-1 so far this season, averaging 85.5 points per game and giving up just 58.5 points per game. Jarrett Givens leads the way with 15.5 points per game as he is shooting 91.7 percent (22-of-24) from the free throw line. Darren Lockett is contributing 10.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, and Sigman Farmer III has added 10.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. This is the first meeting all time between Seattle U and Great Falls.
SHOWARE COLLEGE CLASSIC HISTORY: This is the fifth straight year that Seattle University has made the short trip south to play a game at the ShoWare Center in Kent. The Redhawks will play two games at the arena this season, as they host Northwest Indian College on Thursday, Dec. 17. Two weeks before that, the Seattle U women’s basketball team will play at the ShoWare Center for the first time, hosting Denver Thursday, Dec. 3, while construction continues at the Connolly Center. Seattle U is 3-1 in games at the ShoWare Center, starting with a 77-54 victory over Evergreen State Nov. 28, 2011 that featured a 15-point, nine-rebound performance by Clarence Trent. On March 6, 2013, the season before CSU Bakersfield joined the WAC, the Roadrunners defeated the Redhawks in overtime, 75-74. Seattle U earned a 70-67 victory over Norfolk State on Dec. 19, 2013, led by 18 points apiece by Isiah Umipig and Deshaun Sunderhaus and 17 points from Trent. Last season, the Redhawks faced Pacific Lutheran Dec. 1, 2014, and defeated the Lutes, 72-33. Jarell Flora led the Redhawks with 16 points, while Jack Crook notched a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Seattle U held the Lutes to 23.1 percent field goal shooting and dominated the boards, 47-27.