STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Seattle U men's basketball continued its storied run through the 2021-22 season Saturday night, utilizing a total team effort to take down Tarleton State, 76-68, to remain perfect atop the Western Athletic Conference standings.
The Redhawks concluded a three-game, six-day WAC road swing 3-0, improved to 6-0 in the league standings and moved to 15-4 on the season, marking the best record through 19 games for a Seattle U squad since 1963-64.
Cameron Tyson led the way with 21 points, including five dagger threes. Darrion Trammell battled foul trouble to finish with 13 points and five assists. Riley Grigsby added 11 points, while Viktor Rajkovic and Kobe Williamson added nine and seven points, respectively, off the bench. All told, eight Redhawks produced at least four points on the night.
"That was the ultimate team win," said Interim Head Coach Chris Victor. "Tarleton is a tough, well coached team and are very hard to beat in Stephenville. For our guys to step up and find a way to win that game was special and shows what we are made of. Texas has been great to us, but we can't wait to get back home and back in front of our fans in Seattle."
The two sides battled near dead even through the first half of play. Each shot 12-of-27 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line while committing 11 turnovers apiece. Seattle U would build a late seven-point lead, the largest of the half. But Tarleton would score the final four points, whittling the lead to three, 35-32 at the break.
Tyson and Grigsby provided the offensive park in the second half, each hitting a trio of threes, and combined for 20 points.
The Redhawks never relinquished the lead in the second frame, but had to fend off multiple runs by the Texans. An 8-0 Seattle U spurt capped by a Tyson three in transition opened up the largest lead of the night, 49-39, with 12:27 to play.
But Tarleton responded with a 9-0 push of their own, trimming it to a one-point game midway through. A Udenyi layup and another Tyson three quickly pushed the lead back to six. The home team would cut it to a single possession twice more, but the Redhawks continued to respond and were once again nails from the free throw line to seal the game.
The key stretch of WAC play makes its way back to Seattle next week as the Redhawks return home to host a pair of games. The homestead begins Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Climate Pledge Arena as Seattle U takes on Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. On Saturday, second-place Sam Houston State comes to town for a 1 p.m. tip-off at the Redhawk Center. Tickets for both games are available online at goseattleu.com/tix or by calling the box office at 206-398-GOSU.
The Redhawks concluded a three-game, six-day WAC road swing 3-0, improved to 6-0 in the league standings and moved to 15-4 on the season, marking the best record through 19 games for a Seattle U squad since 1963-64.
Cameron Tyson led the way with 21 points, including five dagger threes. Darrion Trammell battled foul trouble to finish with 13 points and five assists. Riley Grigsby added 11 points, while Viktor Rajkovic and Kobe Williamson added nine and seven points, respectively, off the bench. All told, eight Redhawks produced at least four points on the night.
"That was the ultimate team win," said Interim Head Coach Chris Victor. "Tarleton is a tough, well coached team and are very hard to beat in Stephenville. For our guys to step up and find a way to win that game was special and shows what we are made of. Texas has been great to us, but we can't wait to get back home and back in front of our fans in Seattle."
Texas Two Step complete ??#TogetherWeSoar pic.twitter.com/XkR2Bc0qws
— Seattle U Men's Basketball (@seattleumbb) January 23, 2022
The two sides battled near dead even through the first half of play. Each shot 12-of-27 from the field and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line while committing 11 turnovers apiece. Seattle U would build a late seven-point lead, the largest of the half. But Tarleton would score the final four points, whittling the lead to three, 35-32 at the break.
Tyson and Grigsby provided the offensive park in the second half, each hitting a trio of threes, and combined for 20 points.
The Redhawks never relinquished the lead in the second frame, but had to fend off multiple runs by the Texans. An 8-0 Seattle U spurt capped by a Tyson three in transition opened up the largest lead of the night, 49-39, with 12:27 to play.
But Tarleton responded with a 9-0 push of their own, trimming it to a one-point game midway through. A Udenyi layup and another Tyson three quickly pushed the lead back to six. The home team would cut it to a single possession twice more, but the Redhawks continued to respond and were once again nails from the free throw line to seal the game.
The key stretch of WAC play makes its way back to Seattle next week as the Redhawks return home to host a pair of games. The homestead begins Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Climate Pledge Arena as Seattle U takes on Stephen F. Austin at 7 p.m. On Saturday, second-place Sam Houston State comes to town for a 1 p.m. tip-off at the Redhawk Center. Tickets for both games are available online at goseattleu.com/tix or by calling the box office at 206-398-GOSU.
Stay connected with Seattle U men's basketball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.