LAS VEGAS — Seattle University men's basketball led start to finish Sunday afternoon against the Air Force Academy on its way to a 63-45 win at the 2020 Vegas Bubble at T-Mobile Arena.
The win was the third straight for the Redhawks to start the season, marking the first time SU has opened a season 3-0 since 2008-09.
Three pointers, defense and runs of scoring were keys on the day, while five players scored in double figures for the first time this year.
"If we're going to have a successful season, we're going to need to be a really good three-point shooting team," said Head Coach Jim Hayford. "We showed that at the beginning of the game and we showed that constantly in the second half, and that got us a win."
The three ball got Seattle U going in the first as six of their first seven field goals were from beyond the arc. Junior Rip Economou went 4-of-5 from deep in the frame, on his way to a career-high 12 points.
A 17-3 advantage to open the game put Air Force in an early hole. The Falcons would battle back late in the half, however, hitting five straight shots while the Redhawks went cold.
Seattle U would hold a slim 27-25 lead at the break.
The start of the second half saw a similar pattern to the first as Air Force hit one of two free throws to open the frame before the Redhawks reeled off 13 straight. A Darrion Trammell putback runner in the lane made it a 19-point game, 47-28, with 11:31 to play.
The Falcons would get no closer than 12 as Seattle U closed things out with an 11-5 run over the final 4:15.
"We guarded their three ball very well," said Hayford. "We turned it over too much in the first half, but then only had two in the second. We came up with a good team win today and I'm really proud of our guys."
Riley Grigsby had 13 points to lead the quintet of Redhawks in double figures. Economou, Trammell and Aaron Nettles added 12 point each while Kobe Williamson chipped in 11. Trammell and Nettles had five assists apiece and Williamson led with six boards.
Air Force was paced by Glen McClintock's 11 points. Chris Joyce, who went for 23 points Saturday against CSUN, was held to just four points, all from the free-throw line.
The Redhawks will face a quick turnaround for their next outing - a 2 p.m. tip off Monday against CSUN to close out play in Las Vegas.
The win was the third straight for the Redhawks to start the season, marking the first time SU has opened a season 3-0 since 2008-09.
Three pointers, defense and runs of scoring were keys on the day, while five players scored in double figures for the first time this year.
"If we're going to have a successful season, we're going to need to be a really good three-point shooting team," said Head Coach Jim Hayford. "We showed that at the beginning of the game and we showed that constantly in the second half, and that got us a win."
The three ball got Seattle U going in the first as six of their first seven field goals were from beyond the arc. Junior Rip Economou went 4-of-5 from deep in the frame, on his way to a career-high 12 points.
A 17-3 advantage to open the game put Air Force in an early hole. The Falcons would battle back late in the half, however, hitting five straight shots while the Redhawks went cold.
Seattle U would hold a slim 27-25 lead at the break.
The start of the second half saw a similar pattern to the first as Air Force hit one of two free throws to open the frame before the Redhawks reeled off 13 straight. A Darrion Trammell putback runner in the lane made it a 19-point game, 47-28, with 11:31 to play.
The Falcons would get no closer than 12 as Seattle U closed things out with an 11-5 run over the final 4:15.
"We guarded their three ball very well," said Hayford. "We turned it over too much in the first half, but then only had two in the second. We came up with a good team win today and I'm really proud of our guys."
Riley Grigsby had 13 points to lead the quintet of Redhawks in double figures. Economou, Trammell and Aaron Nettles added 12 point each while Kobe Williamson chipped in 11. Trammell and Nettles had five assists apiece and Williamson led with six boards.
Air Force was paced by Glen McClintock's 11 points. Chris Joyce, who went for 23 points Saturday against CSUN, was held to just four points, all from the free-throw line.
The Redhawks will face a quick turnaround for their next outing - a 2 p.m. tip off Monday against CSUN to close out play in Las Vegas.