OREM, Utah – Riley Grigsby banked in a go-ahead straightaway three with 30 seconds remaining and he and Cameron Tyson each drained a pair of free throws in the final seconds to lead Seattle U men's basketball to an 85-80 win at Utah Valley Saturday night at the UCCU Center.
In a battle of the final two unbeaten teams in Western Athletic Conference play, the Redhawks (14-4, 5-0 WAC) prevailed, marking a sixth consecutive win while snapping the fourth longest win streak in the nation (11 games) in defeating the Wolverines (14-5, 5-1 WAC).
Tyson finished with a team-high 20 points, including a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line. Grigsby went for 18 points and eight rebounds, his seventh board marking 500 for his career.
"Utah Valley is a great program, so tough and so hard to beat at home," said Head Coach Chris Victor. "For us to come in and fight the way we did, stick with it, battle through foul trouble early. To just believe in each other and keep bringing and grinding. This was a huge win for us."
Alex Schumacher added 12 points and six assists, Brandton Chatfield had 11 points before fouling out late and Kobe Williamson added 10 points and five boards.
UVU got 23 points, 13 boards and seven assists from Aziz Bandaogo as five total Wolverines scored in double figures.
For a pair of teams battling for top billing in the WAC, along with a 12-12 all-time series record, the game lived up to its billing.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 16-9 lead early, forcing a Seattle U timeout at the 15:29 mark of the first half. Out of the timeout, Williamson knocked down back-to-back threes and the Redhawks were right back in it.
Knotted at 20-apiece, Seattle U went on an 8-1 spurt capped by a Chatfield alleyoop dunk and-1. The Redhawks pushed the lead to eight, 32-24 with 7:46 left in the half, but the Wolverines would surge down the stretch of the frame to take a 44-42 lead into the break.
Neither side would lead by more than three for much of the second half until a three-minute cold spell for the Redhawks saw UVU go up five, 67-62, with 7:06 to play.
Three Tyson free throws and a Schumacher layup inside four minutes knotted the score at 73-all. Justin Harmon put the home team on top 75-53 at the 2:08 mark, but Tyson answered with a triple to snatch the lead right back.
The score would tie at 76 and 78 before Grigsby hit his straightaway three out of a Seattle U called timeout to put the Redhawks up 81-78. Trey Woodbury would pull UVU within one on the ensuing possession. But, following a missed free throw attempt by Williamson, Woodbury would miss the potential go ahead with nine seconds left. Tyson went on to drain two free throws and Grigsby sealed the game with a pair of his own.
The Redhawks return home next week, hosting Tarleton State on Thursday and Southern Utah on Saturday.
Single game tickets for all remaining home games, as well as flex packages, are available now. To purchase, visit goseattleu.com/tix. For more information about courtside seating or VIP hospitality, please contact the Seattle U Athletics box office at 206-398-GOSU or seattleutickets@seattleu.edu.
In a battle of the final two unbeaten teams in Western Athletic Conference play, the Redhawks (14-4, 5-0 WAC) prevailed, marking a sixth consecutive win while snapping the fourth longest win streak in the nation (11 games) in defeating the Wolverines (14-5, 5-1 WAC).
Tyson finished with a team-high 20 points, including a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line. Grigsby went for 18 points and eight rebounds, his seventh board marking 500 for his career.
"Utah Valley is a great program, so tough and so hard to beat at home," said Head Coach Chris Victor. "For us to come in and fight the way we did, stick with it, battle through foul trouble early. To just believe in each other and keep bringing and grinding. This was a huge win for us."
Alex Schumacher added 12 points and six assists, Brandton Chatfield had 11 points before fouling out late and Kobe Williamson added 10 points and five boards.
UVU got 23 points, 13 boards and seven assists from Aziz Bandaogo as five total Wolverines scored in double figures.
For a pair of teams battling for top billing in the WAC, along with a 12-12 all-time series record, the game lived up to its billing.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 16-9 lead early, forcing a Seattle U timeout at the 15:29 mark of the first half. Out of the timeout, Williamson knocked down back-to-back threes and the Redhawks were right back in it.
Knotted at 20-apiece, Seattle U went on an 8-1 spurt capped by a Chatfield alleyoop dunk and-1. The Redhawks pushed the lead to eight, 32-24 with 7:46 left in the half, but the Wolverines would surge down the stretch of the frame to take a 44-42 lead into the break.
Neither side would lead by more than three for much of the second half until a three-minute cold spell for the Redhawks saw UVU go up five, 67-62, with 7:06 to play.
Three Tyson free throws and a Schumacher layup inside four minutes knotted the score at 73-all. Justin Harmon put the home team on top 75-53 at the 2:08 mark, but Tyson answered with a triple to snatch the lead right back.
The score would tie at 76 and 78 before Grigsby hit his straightaway three out of a Seattle U called timeout to put the Redhawks up 81-78. Trey Woodbury would pull UVU within one on the ensuing possession. But, following a missed free throw attempt by Williamson, Woodbury would miss the potential go ahead with nine seconds left. Tyson went on to drain two free throws and Grigsby sealed the game with a pair of his own.
The Redhawks return home next week, hosting Tarleton State on Thursday and Southern Utah on Saturday.
Single game tickets for all remaining home games, as well as flex packages, are available now. To purchase, visit goseattleu.com/tix. For more information about courtside seating or VIP hospitality, please contact the Seattle U Athletics box office at 206-398-GOSU or seattleutickets@seattleu.edu.
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