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GAMEDAY: MBB at Cal

SEATTLE – Seattle U men's basketball (5-4) heads back out on the road for a final contest before the Christmas break, traveling to face California (4-4) on Tuesday, Dec. 22. Tip off from Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif., is set for 2 p.m. Pacific. The game will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Network and can be heard live on KTTH 770 AM and mynorthwest.com.

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GAMEDAY: MBB at CalGAMEDAY: MBB at Cal
Sarah Finney

SEATTLE – Seattle U men's basketball (5-4) heads back out on the road for a final contest before the Christmas break, traveling to face California (4-4) on Tuesday, Dec. 22. Tip off from Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif., is set for 2 p.m. Pacific. The game will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Network and can be heard live on KTTH 770 AM and mynorthwest.com.

FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS

ABOUT THE SERIES VS CAL
In 10 all-time meetings between Seattle U and Cal, the Bears hold a 7-3 advantage. In the Redhawks' modern-day Division I era, the teams have three meetings. Seattle U was victorious in the last meeting, an 82-73 final at Haas Pavilion on Dec. 29, 2018. Myles Carter poured in 26 points to go along with 13 rebounds and Morgan Means added 24 points, including 16-of-16 from the free-throw line to power the Redhawks to victory. Seattle U led 40-31 at the break and held on in the second half. Delante Jones added 16 points and Terrell Brown had 10.

The two previous modern-day meetings both went to Cal as the Bears earned a 66-52 win on Dec. 1, 2015 at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif. The Bears also claimed an 81-59 win on Dec. 19, 2017 at KeyArena. Seattle U won the first-ever meeting between the two programs - a historic 66-62 overtime victory in the West Regional of the 1957-58 NCAA Tournament. The two schools would meet six more times during the 60s, 70s and 80s. Seattle U also won an 81-67 decision during the 1978-79 season. 

THE CAL CONNECTION
Seattle U has multiple connections to Cal, both on the coaching staff and roster. Associate Head Coach Alex Pribble played his collegiate ball at Cal. He walked-on during his freshman season and played in 76 games for the Bears under then coach Ben Braun during his four-year collegiate career. He received a scholarship at Cal after his sophomore season, and was named team captain as a senior. He was twice named to the Pac-10 All-Academic Team and was a two-time recipient of the Cal Hustle Award. He was also selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court and played in the inaugural Maccabi Australia International games.

In addition, Al Grigsby, father of junior Riley Grigsby played for the Bears from 1992-97. Overcoming multiple injuries throughout his career, Al Grigsby was a three-time team Most Inspirational Player honoree and is one of just four players in Cal history to have his jersey retired.

This marks the second time Riley Grigsby has competed in a game at Cal. The Redhawks defeated Cal on Dec. 29, 2018, during his freshman season. Riley saw just four minutes of action with one rebound in the 82-73 win.

QUICK HITS

  • Seattle U moved to 5-4 on the season and 2-0 at home with a 78-54 win over College of Idaho on Dec. 17.
  • The Redhawks had four players in double figures for just the second time this season.
  • Freshman Vas Pandža had a breakout game in his first career start against College of Idaho. The rookie scored 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe.
  • Darrion Trammell had 16 points and six assists, leading the team in scoring for the fourth time this season.
  • Emeka Udenyi recorded the Redhawks' first double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

PAC-12 FOES
This marks the third time in Head Coach Jim Hayford's four years at Seattle U that the Redhawks have played at lease a trio of Pac-12 opponents in a single season. The Redhawks are 2-9 against the conference during the span. The 2018-19 season brought both of those wins as Seattle U topped both Washington State and Cal, finishing 2-2 against the Pac-12 that year. So far in 2020-21, the Redhawks are 0-2 with losses at UCLA and Washington.

TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
For a second consecutive season, the Redhawks are among the nation's best in taking care of the basketball. In games played through Dec. 19, Seattle U ranks No. 14 nationally in turnover margin (6.3) and 25th in turnovers per game (10.7). Both of those marks top the WAC. In their five wins this year, they have kept giveaways to single digits. Last season, the Redhawks finished second nationally in fewest turnovers, and eighth in fewest turnovers per game (10.2).

REDHAWK RUNDOWN

  • Seattle U's home opening win over Northwest on Dec. 13 was the latest home opener date since 1988-89 when Seattle U played its first 10 games on the road and did not host a home game until Jan. 6, 1989.
  • The 40 points allowed by Northwest on Dec. 13 is the least allowed by a Redhawks squad since Dec. 17, 2015 when they earned a 98-36 win over Northwest Indian College.
  • Seattle U opened the season with three consecutive wins for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
  • The Redhawks picked up wins over WCC member Portland, NAIA William Jessup and Mountain West member Air Force in that stretch.
  • Seattle U's 41 points at UW on Dec. 9 was the fewest points scored since a 59-44 loss at UTRGV on Feb. 14, 2019. It also marks the fewest points scored in a game during Jim Hayford's tenure.
  • Emeka Udenyi was the lone double-digit scorer for the Redhawks at UW on Dec. 9, finishing with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He leads the team shooting 69.7 percent from the field.
  • Sophomore Darrion Trammell had a career-high 32 points in the loss at Long Beach State on Dec. 6. The game also marked his first start of the year.
  • Riley Grigsby poured in six three pointers on his way to 24 points at Long Beach State on Dec. 6. The six threes were a career-high and the most threes made in a game since Matej Kavas drained six on Dec. 23, 2017 against Nicholls State.
  • Nate Robinson made his first appearance of the season on Dec. 3 at UCLA after missing the first four games due to a toe injury. The junior guard had two points, one rebound and one block in nine minutes of action. 
  • Junior Rip Economou drained four threes on Nov. 29 against Air Force on Nov. 29, notching a career-high 12 points.
  • The Redhawks won their season opener for a second straight year, this time with an 84-72 victory over Portland on Nov. 25. 
  • The win over Portland was the fourth straight for Seattle U. The teams have met during each of the past four years and are set to meet again later this season.
  • Riley Grigsby poured in a career-high 28 points in the season debut versus Portland. His performance over the first three games earned him WAC Player of the Week honors.
  • Freshman Kobe Williamson had an impressive collegiate debut with 10 points and nine boards against Portland. He is the first freshman to start a season opener since Morgan Means did so in 2016-17. Means finished with five points, three rebounds and three assists in that outing.