RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Kobe Williamson converted a putback layup and the and-1 free throw with seven seconds remaining and Seattle U men's basketball put the defensive clamp on California Baptist down the stretch in a huge 61-60 win at the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center Saturday night.
The Redhawk win snapped a five-game win streak for the Lancers and marked the first road victory for Seattle U in the head-to-head series since March of 2021. Seattle U improves to 13-9 overall and 6-5 in the Western Athletic Conference. CBU drops to 13-8 overall and 6-4 in WAC play.
Cameron Tyson led the Redhawks with 18 points and Alex Schumacher added 15. Williamson finished the night with nine points, five rebounds, one block and one steal. He was a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.
CBU's Dominique Daniels, Jr., led all scores with 26 points. Brantly Stevenson added 10 as the only other Lancer in double figures.
Seattle U trailed by seven, 58-51, with 4:09 to play before a Schumacher three jump started a 5-0 spurt. Daniels knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:03 on the clock, making it a four-point Lancer lead. But Tyson answered with a driving layup, then forced a jump ball turnover on the ensuing CBU possession to put the ball back in the Redhawks' hands with 20 seconds remaining.
Looking for a game-tying bucket, Schumacher's layup rimmed short, but Williamson came through from the weak side, snatching the rebounding and quickly going back up through traffic. The layup was good to knot the score at 60-60, and a Goodrick foul not he play sent Williamson to the line for the go-ahead point.
??Kobe Williamson with the late hoop and the harm, @seattleumbb wins it 61-60 on the road at CBU! #OneWAC x #WAChoops pic.twitter.com/CML1doyL1x
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) February 4, 2024
With seven seconds remaining, Williamson sank the and-1 free throw and Seattle U forced two contested Lancer attempts in the final seconds to preserve the road win.
CBU managed just one of its final 10 field goal attempts, finished 0-of-5, and scored just two points (free throws) in the final 4:09 of play.
Seattle U returns home next week to host Abilene Christian and Tarleton in a pair of WAC contests. The Redhawks and Wildcats tip off on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at Climate Pledge Arena.
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