SAN FRANCISCO – A gritty battle between two of the top defensive teams in the nation came down to the wire Wednesday night in San Francisco. In the end it would be San Francisco who would claim their 21st home non-conference win in 22 tries, holding off Seattle University men's basketball, 62-59, at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center.
Cameron Tyson finished with a game-high 22 points, including six three pointers. Seyi Reiley and Brandton Chatfield had nine points apiece and Alex Schumacher added eight.
USF (8-3) was paced by Mike Sharavjamts and Marcus Williams who had 18 points apiece. Malik Thomas added 13 points off the bench.
The Redhawks threw the first punch, building a 24-9 lead midway through the first half. Seattle U's defense held the Dons to just 25% from the field in the frame, though the home team put together a 10-0 run that helped them pull within seven at the break.
Neither team could get much going offensively early in the second half, but the Redhawks' lead dwindled to a single point four times before a pair of Williams' free throws gave the Don't their first lead of the night, 48-47, with 7:38 to play.
An 8-0 run stretched the USF lead to five, 52-47, before Reiley converted an and-1 layup to halt a 4:30 scoring drought for the Redhawks.
Tyson's sixth triple of the night tied the score at 55 with 2:25 to play. But Williams would put the Dons back up by three.
The Redhawks had two chances to tie or take the lead in the final seconds, but a three-point attempt by Tyson rimmed out with four seconds remaining and a half court heave at the buzzer fell short.
Seattle U returns home on Sunday, Dec. 17, hosting crosstown rival Washington at Climate Pledge Arena. Tip off is set for 5 p.m.
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