SEATTLE – Seattle University men's basketball's bid for its best start in Western Athletic Conference play fell just short Saturday night in the Redhawk Center as the visiting New Mexico State Aggies escaped with a 75-67 win.
The Redahwks move to 10-10 on the season and 3-2 in WAC play while the Aggies remain the lone unbeaten in the league at 5-0 and 14-6 on the year.
Terrell Brown put on an electrifying 25-point, five-assist, five-rebound night while shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor and pacing the Redhawk offense to the final buzzer. Delante Jones provided crucial energy off the bench, chipping in 11 points, hitting two three-pointers, while Morgan Means added 10 points.
NM State was paced by Ivan Aurrecoechea's 19 points and 11 rebounds. Jabari Rice added a 17-point, 11 rebound double-double and Trevelin Queen chipped in 10 points.
The difference makers on the night came from the free-throw line and on the boards, each of where the Aggies came out on top. NM State earned 31 trips to the line, making good on 26 shots, while the Redhawks shot 83.3 percent, but were just 15-18. The Aggies won the battle of the boards, 35-23, including nine on the offensive end that they turned into 15 second-chance points.
"You have to give them credit," said Head Coach Jim Hayford. "They went on the road on the second night of a road trip and shot nearly 84 percent from the free-throw line. That's how you do it."
It was an even match through the first half of play as the Redhawks used a big 12-1 run early to go ahead 16-5 nearly midway through. But the Aggies would break out of their scoring slump by hitting threes and free throws, and eventually the teams would head to the locker room even at 29-29.
The two sides would stay within two possessions for the majority of the second half, with the spread only slipping further in the waning seconds. A big Jordan Dallas three with 7:03 remaining would put the Redhawks on top, 57-56. It would ultimately be their final lead of the night.
Seattle U's wheels turning down the stretch as a Brown layup just inside five minutes tied the score, 59-59. Jones would hit a runner in the lane with three minutes to play to make it a one-point deficit, 64-63, and Brown's old-fashion three-point play made it 69-67 NM State at the 1:50 mark.
But the Aggies would hit a perfect 6-6 from the line to seal the game.
"New Mexico State showed why they're the champions," said Hayford. "It was a one-possession game going down the stretch and they put it away."
Seattle U takes to the road for WAC redemption Thursday, Jan. 23 at Grand Canyon with tip-off set at 7:00 p.m. local, 6:00 p.m. Pacific.