SEATTLE – Seattle U men's basketball held the nation's top scoring team 27 points below its average, including 1-of-25 from three, rolling to an 81-60 over Southern Utah University in another key Western Athletic Conference match-up Saturday afternoon in the Redhawk Center.
The Redhawks got a career-high 33 points from Riley Grigsby and 19 from Cameron Tyson as they stayed atop the league standings with a perfect 7-0 record. The win also marked the eighth straight for Seattle U, which has won 10 consecutive home games dating back to last season.
Seattle U's offense was solid as the squad hit 46 percent from the field and 13-of-35 from three. But it was the defense that shined bright against the Thunderbirds (14-7, 6-2 WAC).
SUU entered the game averaging a national-best 87.3 ppg and 8.7 threes per game. Less than 48 hours prior, the Thunderbirds poured in 111 points and a school record 20 three pointers in a home victory. But on Saturday in Seattle, the Redhawks had different ideas.
"To hold Southern Utah to 60, 1-of-25 from three...that's a special performance and that's what we want to do at home," said Head Coach Chris Victor. "You gotta give credit to our defense for making it tough.
"I didn't think we played well in the first half defensively," Victor said. "We were scoring the ball pretty well, but defensively we were making too many mistakes, and in the second half we got back to it. That's when we are able to extend the lead and Riley Grigsby was special again. What a night for him."
Grigsby was the cog early in the first half, draining a trio of threes and helping the Redhawks to a 36-34 lead at the break. Tyson had 12 points in the half as the Redhawks had eight triples while holding SUU to just 1-of-13 from deep. But the Thunderbirds picked up eight offensive boards for nine second chance points to keep things close.
Things stayed close through the first half of the second frame and a Tevian Jones fast break layup made it a 46-45 lead for Southern Utah with 10:45 to play.
But out of the media timeout, the Redhawks made their move with a 25-5 run that opened up a 70-51 advantage. Grigsby led the charge with 17 of the 25 points in the six-minute span.
Grigsby put a cap on the second 30-point game of his career by draining a three with 24 seconds remaining, giving Seattle U its largest lead of the night, 81-58. Jones would score once more for SUU before the final buzzer.
Seattle U takes its streak on the road next week, heading back to Texas to face Sam Houston on Thursday, Jan. 26 and Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Jan. 28.
The Redhawks got a career-high 33 points from Riley Grigsby and 19 from Cameron Tyson as they stayed atop the league standings with a perfect 7-0 record. The win also marked the eighth straight for Seattle U, which has won 10 consecutive home games dating back to last season.
Seattle U's offense was solid as the squad hit 46 percent from the field and 13-of-35 from three. But it was the defense that shined bright against the Thunderbirds (14-7, 6-2 WAC).
SUU entered the game averaging a national-best 87.3 ppg and 8.7 threes per game. Less than 48 hours prior, the Thunderbirds poured in 111 points and a school record 20 three pointers in a home victory. But on Saturday in Seattle, the Redhawks had different ideas.
"To hold Southern Utah to 60, 1-of-25 from three...that's a special performance and that's what we want to do at home," said Head Coach Chris Victor. "You gotta give credit to our defense for making it tough.
"I didn't think we played well in the first half defensively," Victor said. "We were scoring the ball pretty well, but defensively we were making too many mistakes, and in the second half we got back to it. That's when we are able to extend the lead and Riley Grigsby was special again. What a night for him."
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— Seattle U Men's Basketball (@seattleumbb) January 22, 2023
Grigsby was the cog early in the first half, draining a trio of threes and helping the Redhawks to a 36-34 lead at the break. Tyson had 12 points in the half as the Redhawks had eight triples while holding SUU to just 1-of-13 from deep. But the Thunderbirds picked up eight offensive boards for nine second chance points to keep things close.
Things stayed close through the first half of the second frame and a Tevian Jones fast break layup made it a 46-45 lead for Southern Utah with 10:45 to play.
But out of the media timeout, the Redhawks made their move with a 25-5 run that opened up a 70-51 advantage. Grigsby led the charge with 17 of the 25 points in the six-minute span.
Grigsby put a cap on the second 30-point game of his career by draining a three with 24 seconds remaining, giving Seattle U its largest lead of the night, 81-58. Jones would score once more for SUU before the final buzzer.
Seattle U takes its streak on the road next week, heading back to Texas to face Sam Houston on Thursday, Jan. 26 and Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Jan. 28.
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