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GAME PREVIEW: MBB vs UTRGV

SEATTLE – Seattle University men's basketball (17-10, 10-6 WAC) continues its final homestand of the season on Saturday, Feb. 24, hosting UTRGV (6-20, 2-13 WAC) in a Western Athletic Conference match-up. Tip off is 3 p.m. in the Redhawk Center and the game will air on ESPN+.

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GAME PREVIEW: MBB vs UTRGVGAME PREVIEW: MBB vs UTRGV

SEATTLE – Seattle University men's basketball (17-10, 10-6 WAC) continues its final homestand of the season on Saturday, Feb. 24, hosting UTRGV (6-20, 2-13 WAC) in a Western Athletic Conference match-up. Tip off is 3 p.m. in the Redhawk Center and the game will air on ESPN+.

FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS

QUICK HITS

  • Seattle U extended its current win streak to three straight after claiming a convincing 69-49 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Thursday.
  • The Redhawks improved to 17-10 overall and 10-6 in WAC play, maintaining sole possession of third place (behind Grand Canyon and Tarleton) in the conference standings.
  • Seattle U picked up its 17th win of the season Thursday night, inching closer to a potential 20-win season for a third consecutive year. The last back-to-back-to-back 20-win seasons was 1956-57, 1957-58, 1958-59.
  • The 10th WAC win gives Seattle U double-digit conference wins for the third straight season and the only three seasons they have hit the marker since joining the conference in 2012-13.
  • Cameron Tyson poured in 27 points on Thursday against SFA, bringing his career total to 1,982. He needs just 18 more to hit the 2K mark. While a portion of his points came at other institutions, Tyson would become just the second player ever to don a Seattle University jersey and have over 2,000 career points. Seattle U's all-time leading scorer is Johnny O'Brien (1950-53) with 2,733 career points.
  • Seattle U shot 53.1% from the field versus SFA, the seventh time they have shot better than 50% this season.
  • On the defensive side, the Redhawks held SFA to just 27.8% shooting, the second time this season an opponent has shot under 30%.

SEATTLE STORYLINES

  • On the offensive end, Seattle U is shooting 44.6% from the field on the season, their highest season total since the first year of the program's modern DI history in 2008-09 when they finished the season having shot at a 45.2% clip.
  • After missing nine games due to hand injury, John Christofilis has bounced back without missing a step, averaging 12.9 ppg  since his return. The stretch has included a career-high 32 points on Jan. 4 vs Utah Tech and double-digit scoring in 10 of the last 14 games.
  • Kobe Williamson has scored a pair of game-winning baskets on the season, including a putback, and-1 layup and free throw at California Baptist on Feb. 3 and a putback dunk on Feb. 17 at Utah Tech. 
  • Williamson has also turned in career-best numbers all season long. The 6-8 forward is averaging 9.6 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 47% FGs, 27% from three and 76% FTs. This are all career-highs for the fourth-year junior (due to COVID) who averaged 4.2 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 37% FGs and 26% from three last season.
  • The Redhawks lead the WAC and are among the top teams in the nation in three-point percentage defense, holding teams to 29.5% from beyond the arc.
  • Alex Schumacher scored his 1,500th career point at SFA on Jan. 18 as part of a 24-point effort. His 12th point of the night hit the milestone marker. Schumacher joins Cameron Tyson to give Seattle U a pair of players who have over 1,500 career points.
  • With the one-point win at Utah Tech on Feb. 17, the Redhawks have won the last three games decided by five points or less. On the season, they are now 5-8 in those games. The collective total of their 10 losses is just 38 points, or an average of 3.8 ppg.
  • The overtime finish at Grand Canyon on Feb. 1 was the Redhawks' fifth game to go extra time this season. They are 1-4 in OT games this season and 2-4 all-time under Head Coach Chris Victor.

ABOUT THE SERIES VS UTRGV

  • Seattle U and UTRGV, formerly known as Texas Pan American, have 20 previous meetings with the Redhawks holding a 14-6 advantage in the series.
  • UTRGV snapped a three-game Seattle U win streak on Jan. 11, winning 81-80 in overtime in Edinburg.
  • The teams met just once last season, a 66-64 Seattle U win in Edinburg, Texas. The Redhawks overcame a 29-27 halftime deficit to escape with the road win. Cameron Tyson had 27 points and Alex Schumacher added 16.
  • The Redhawks swept the home-and-home in 2021-22 with the two games coming just six days apart. Seattle U won, 67-59, at Climate Pledge Arena on Feb. 10 and on Feb. 16 in Edinburg, the Redhawks drained 21 threes, including nine by Tyson, on their way to a 102-62 victory.
  • The teams did not meet during the 2020-21 season due to travel issues caused by inclement weather in Texas.
  • The Redhawks and Vaqueros split the home-and-home series in 2019-20, each winning on their home court.
  • Prior to that, UTRGV had won both meetings in the 2018-29 season. Those wins Vaquero wins snapped a six-game Seattle U win streak in the series.
  • In addition to regular-season meetings, the teams have met twice in the WAC Tournament with Seattle U claiming victory in both match-ups.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Seattle U has gone 42-7 (.857) on its home court during the past two-plus seasons under Head Coach Chris Victor. That record includes a 32-3 (.914) mark at the Redhawk Center, including 11-1 in 2023-24, and a 12-4 mark in 16 games played at Climate Pledge Arena.

MILESTONE MARCH - POINTS
A pair of Redhawks are racking up points and closing in on significant milestone markers.

  • Cameron Tyson checks in with 1,982 career points, 18 from 2,000 for his career.
  • Tyson is also 67 points away from 1,500 points scored at Seattle U. The last player to do so was Riley Grigsby (2019-23) who finished with 1,501. 
  • Tyson could crack the Seattle U top-10 list in scoring. He is 97 points away from No. 10 Jawann Oldham (1976-80, 1530).
  • Alex Schumacher scored 24 points at SFA on Jan. 18, hitting the 1,500 career-point mark with his 12th point of the night. He now sits at 1,645 and counting.

MILESTONE MARCH - REBOUNDS
A trio of Redhawks have been closing in on 500 rebounds for their career:

  • Alex Schumacher collected seven rebounds on Feb. 22 versus Stephen F. Austin, surpassing 500 career rebounds (503).
  • Kobe Williamson hauled in 11 rebounds on Jan. 26 versus Utah Valley, surpassing 500 career rebounds. He now has 557 for his career.
  • Cameron Tyson checks in with 483 career rebounds, needing 17 more to hit 500.

ATOP THE WAC
In games played through Feb. 22, the Redhawks lead the WAC in three team statistical categories and five individual categories.

  • FG% Defense - 40.8% (also No. 35 in the nation)
  • 3pt% Defense - 29.5% (also No. 13 in the nation)
  • Defensive Rebounds - 27.19 per game
  • Assists - Alex Schumacher, 131 (also No. 52 in the nation)
  • Assists per game - Alex Schumacher, 4.9 (also No. 58 in the nation)
  • 3pt% - Cameron Tyson, 38.3 (also No. 49 in the nation)
  • 3pt per game - Cameron Tyson, 3.12 (also No. 16 in the nation)
  • 3pt made - Cameron Tyson, 75 (also No. 40 in the nation)

NCAA ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS

  • Cameron Tyson is one of three active players across the nation to have over 400 three-pointers for their career. His collegiate career total of 418 three pointers in 136 games played ranks third among all active Division I players (and third among players across all three divisions). He trails Texas' Max Abmas (493, 149 games) and Marshall's Kamdyn Curfman (449, 150 games).
  • Tyson also ranks No. 24 (in games through Feb. 22) among active NCAA DI players in career points with 1,982.

RECORD BREAKERS

  • Cameron Tyson drained four threes on Dec. 20 versus Louisiana Tech to bring his Seattle U career total to 241. His third three of the night pushed him past former record-holder Aaron Waite (1988-92).
  • Kobe Williamson tallied the 110th block of his career against Northwest on Dec. 9, moving him past previous Seattle U record-holder Aaron Menzies (2015-18) to become the outright record holder.
  • Brandton Chatfield is working his way up the Seattle U career blocks top-10 list as well, checking in at No. 4 with 90.

GET YOUR TICKETS
Single-game tickets and flex packages are available for purchase. All ticket options may be purchased online at goseattleu.com/tix or over the phone at 206-398-GOSU.

UP NEXT
The Redhawks conclude their three-game homestand on Thursday, Feb. 29, hosting UT Arlington for Senior Day. Tip off from the Redhawk Center is 7 p.m. The Redhawks will honor seniors Cameron Tyson, Alex Schumacher, Seyi Reiley and Matthew Levis.

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