SEATTLE – Seattle U men's basketball put the clamp down on visiting Grand Canyon University, outscoring the Lopes 16-2 over the final 6:04 of play, rallying for a 63-58 win Saturday night at the Redhawk Center.
Alex Schumacher was the offensive hero, pouring in a season-high 26 points, including the go-ahead step-back three with 22 seconds remaining. The Redhawks followed Schuamcher's shot with two huge defensive stands – a block by Riley Grigsby on a Ray Harrison layup attempt and a Schumacher steal on a Harrison turnover. Cameron Tyson and Schumacher each knocked down a pair of free throws to seal the comeback win.
Seattle U improved to 18-8 on the season, 9-4 in Western Athletic Conference play and a perfect 8-0 at the Redhawk Center this season. GCU dropped to 16-9 overall and 7-5 in WAC play.
"This team showed what they're made of tonight," said Head Coach Chris Victor. "We got down nine at home in the second half, nothing is going right for us, but we kept fighting, kept competing. We got back to our defense and locked in a great team win."
The Redhawks started strong out of the gates as Paris Dawson knocked down a three to open the scoring for a second straight game. Seattle U would score 9-0 straight before GCU called a timeout. The run would go to 11 before the Lopes found the bottom of the basket 3:15 into the game.
"I loved how we started the game," said Victor. "How we were playing looked like us. We were aggressive on defense playing with pace on offense."
Seattle U led for the entirety of the first half, though the Lopes were able to trim the spread to a single possession, 29-26 with 34 seconds remaining. But Schumacher responded with a three to beat the shot clock on the ensuing possession and the Redhawks took a 32-26 lead into the break.
The lead whittled away quickly in the second as the Redhawks came out flat and GCU took advantage. The Lopes would lead by as many as nine, 56-47, with 7:15 to play. But Seattle U dug in on defense down the stretch, coupled with the offensive heroics by Schumacher.
"This isn't the first time (Schu's) won us a game," said Victor. "Not only that, but he was guarding Harrison in the first half and did a great job on him as well. So we ask a lot of him and boy did he come through tonight."
SCHUMACHER FOR THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/K9Pdc9gXnA
— Seattle U Men's Basketball (@seattleumbb) February 12, 2023
Joining Schumacher in double figures were Grigsby with 16 points and Tyson with 11. Schumacher and Grigsby pulled down eight boards each while Dawson added seven.
Harrison, who averages 16.8 mpg on the season to lead the Lopes, had just two in the first half before finishing with a team-high 13. Chance McMillan added 12 points before fouling out late in the game.
Seattle U looks to keep its streak rolling as it heads back out on the road Wednesday, facing California Baptist in Riverside, Calif. Tip-off from the CBU Events Center is set for 7 p.m.
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