LAS VEGAS – Seattle U's historic run through the 2021-22 season came to a heartbreaking close Friday night in the semifinals of the WAC Tournament as streaking Abilene Christian upended the second seed Redhawks, 78-76, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Seattle U, which secured its first ever WAC regular season title one week ago, closes out the year at 23-9. The sixth seeded Wildcats also move to 23-9 and advance to Saturday's tournament championship game where they will face top seed NM State.
Amidst the disappointment, Darrion Trammell turned in a career performance, finishing with 39 points on 10-21 FGs and 17-20 from the free throw line. His 31st point, a free throw with 2:36 remaining, gave the sophomore 1,000 for his career.
Just 33 seconds earlier, Cameron Tyson drained a three pointer that knotted the score at 64-64 and put the redshirt sophomore over 1,000-point marker. Trammell and Tyson join Riley Grigsby as a trio of Redhawks to achieve the feat during this season.
ACU's swarming defense wreaked havoc on the Seattle U offense in the opening frame. The Redhawks turned the ball over 13 times and shot just 25 percent from the field.
Playing their third game in as many days, the Wildcats hit at just a 32 percent clip, but used an 8-0 run late to close out the half leading 28-22.
Airion Simmons drained a three to open the second half and give ACU its largest lead of the night, 31-22. But the Redhawks' began to loosen as Tyson answered with a three and an offensive surge by both squads saw a 44-44 tie with 10:57 to play.
Seattle U would tie the score five times in the half and take a one-point lead twice - the first on a Tyson three with 2:07 to play, and the second on two Trammell free throws to make it 71-70 with 1:32 on the clock. But the Redhawks were forced to foul late and could not pull over the hump.
Tyson joined Trammell in double figures, finishing with 14 points, including four threes.
Simmons paced ACU with 21 points. Tobias Cameron added 18 points and Mark Morris had 13 for the Wildcats.
Seattle U, which secured its first ever WAC regular season title one week ago, closes out the year at 23-9. The sixth seeded Wildcats also move to 23-9 and advance to Saturday's tournament championship game where they will face top seed NM State.
Amidst the disappointment, Darrion Trammell turned in a career performance, finishing with 39 points on 10-21 FGs and 17-20 from the free throw line. His 31st point, a free throw with 2:36 remaining, gave the sophomore 1,000 for his career.
Just 33 seconds earlier, Cameron Tyson drained a three pointer that knotted the score at 64-64 and put the redshirt sophomore over 1,000-point marker. Trammell and Tyson join Riley Grigsby as a trio of Redhawks to achieve the feat during this season.
ACU's swarming defense wreaked havoc on the Seattle U offense in the opening frame. The Redhawks turned the ball over 13 times and shot just 25 percent from the field.
Playing their third game in as many days, the Wildcats hit at just a 32 percent clip, but used an 8-0 run late to close out the half leading 28-22.
Airion Simmons drained a three to open the second half and give ACU its largest lead of the night, 31-22. But the Redhawks' began to loosen as Tyson answered with a three and an offensive surge by both squads saw a 44-44 tie with 10:57 to play.
Seattle U would tie the score five times in the half and take a one-point lead twice - the first on a Tyson three with 2:07 to play, and the second on two Trammell free throws to make it 71-70 with 1:32 on the clock. But the Redhawks were forced to foul late and could not pull over the hump.
Tyson joined Trammell in double figures, finishing with 14 points, including four threes.
Simmons paced ACU with 21 points. Tobias Cameron added 18 points and Mark Morris had 13 for the Wildcats.