REMATCH: Less than two weeks ago, Seattle University closed out the first half of the conference schedule with a 59-57 victory over Grand Canyon in Phoenix, Ariz. The Redhawks and Antelopes see each other again this Friday for the rematch at KeyArena. The game has been selected as the WAC Digital Network Game of the Week. Once again, it will be a battle between a Grand Canyon offense averaging 77.4 points per game and a Seattle U defense allowing just 59.5 points per game over the past six contests.
LAST GAME: In front of a Homecoming crowd, junior William Powell notched his first double-double of the season to lead Seattle University to a 65-55 victory over Missouri-Kansas City Saturday night at KeyArena, extending the Redhawks’ winning streak to five games. Powell shot 6-of-8 from the field as he tied his season high with 17 points, plus he pulled down 12 rebounds and dished out six assists. Emmanuel Chibuogwu reached double figures in scoring for the third time in the past five games with 12 points, while Jack Crook contributed eight points and eight rebounds. After each team exchanged four-point runs to start the game, went on an 8-3 scoring run, capped by a Powell dunk off a steal and pass from Brendan Westendorf, to take a 12-7 lead. The Redhawks extended that lead to 24-16 with less than four minutes in the first half, but Missouri-Kansas City closed out the half with a 9-3 scoring run to close to within two at 27-25 at halftime. Missouri-Kansas City tied the game twice within the first 1:19 of the second half on baskets by Shayok Shayok, but Chibuogwu hit back-to-back jumpers to give the Redhawks the lead for good. Three-pointers by LaVell Boyd and Martez Harrison as well as two free throws from Harrison brought the Kangaroos to within one three different times, but Seattle U started to pull away thanks to five straight points from Powell. Harrison scored four straight points to bring UMKC to within three at 46-43 with 7:38 remaining in the second half, but a steal and dunk by Jadon Cohee and two three-pointers by Jake Spurgeon helped the Redhawks extend their lead back to eight points five minutes later. Late in the second half, Seattle U made 13 straight free throws to put the game away.
SCOUTING GRAND CANYON: The Antelopes enter Friday’s game with a 21-4 overall record after defeating Benedictine Tuesday night, 95-71. Grand Canyon is tied with CSU Bakersfield for second in the WAC standings with a 7-2 league mark, one game behind New Mexico State and one game in front of Seattle U. The ‘Lopes are averaging 78.1 points per game and allowing 68.8 points per contest. As a team, Grand Canyon is shooting 46.5 percent from the field, including 37.8 percent from behind the three-point line, and 70.3 percent from the free throw line. Joshua Braun is the team’s leading scorer at 17.8 points per game, as he has made 59 three-pointers and is shooting 86.6 percent (155-for-179) from the free throw line. Grandy Glaze is shooting 61.7 percent (148-for-240) from the field as he is averaging14.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. DeWayne Russell is averaging 5.6 assists per game to lead the Antelopes.
SERIES HISTORY: Seattle U and Grand Canyon are meeting for the seventh time in history, with the Antelopes holding a 5-1 series lead. Grand Canyon won the first five meetings, sweeping the season series in both 2013-14 and 2014-15. Less than two weeks ago, Manny Chibuogwu kissed an offensive rebound off the glass and into the basket with four seconds remaining in regulation to give Seattle U a 59-57 victory over the ‘Lopes at the GCU Arena in Phoenix. Brendan Westendorf led the Redhawks with 14 points, four assists, and three steals, plus he pulled down seven rebounds. Jack Crook finished with 10 points, as did William Powell along with eight rebounds, two blocked shots, and two steals. Joshua Braun led Grand Canyon with 17 points, and Grandy Glaze notched a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
WE’RE GOING STREAKING!: Seattle University has won five games in a row for the first time since putting together a five-game winning streak from Dec. 2 through Dec. 19, 2013. In addition, Seattle U has won five straight conference games for the first time since joining the Western Athletic Conference in 2012. The last time Seattle U won five straight conference games at any level was as a member of the Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference from Feb. 7 through Feb. 21, 2008. It has been 42 years since Seattle U last won five straight league contests at the Division I level, putting together a five-game winning streak within the West Coast Athletic Conference from Jan. 11 through Feb. 1, 1974, with victories over Nevada, UNLV, Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, and at Santa Clara. Seattle U is looking for its first winning streak longer than five games since a stretch of 10 straight victories from Jan. 13 through Feb. 24, 2009, featuring a win over current WAC member CSU Bakersfield as well as an overtime victory at Eastern Washington.