SEATTLE – For the 11th consecutive year, Seattle University men's basketball is in Las Vegas, Nev., for the Hercules Tires Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament. The Orleans Arena once again host this year's tournament, which begins Wednesday, Mar. 13. The fourth-seeded Redhawks (18-13, 11-9 WAC) earned a bye into the tournament quarterfinals round on Thursday, March 14. Seattle U faces the winner of fifth-seed Utah Valley (16-15, 11-9 WAC) and eighth-seed California Baptist (15-16, 8-12 WAC), who tip off in the first round Wednesday at 6 p.m. Seattle U's tip-off on Thursday is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS
- Thursday, March 14 at 6:00 PM PT
- No. 4 Seattle U (18-13, 11-9 WAC) vs No. 5 Utah Valley (16-15, 11-9 WAC) OR No. 8 California Baptist (15-16, 8-12 WAC)
- Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV
- WAC Tournament Central
- Live Stats
- Watch on ESPN+
- Game Notes
QUICK HITS
- Seattle U wrapped up the regular season with a 69-66 loss at Tarleton on Saturday, March 9.
- The Redhawks wrap up the regular season with an 18-13 overall record, 11-9 in WAC play.
- The 11 WAC wins continues Seattle U's double-digit conference wins streak for a third consecutive season, and the only three seasons they have hit the marker since joining the conference in 2012-13.
- Cameron Tyson scored 15 points on March 9 at Tarleton, bringing his three-year, Seattle U career points total to 1,514. The last player to surpass the 1,500-point marker was Riley Grigsby (2019-23) who finished with 1,501. Tyson is also now 16 points away from No. 10 on Seattle U's all-time scoring list (Jawann Oldham, 1976-80, 1530).
- On the season, the Redhawks are now 5-10 in games decided by five points or less. Twelve of 13 total losses have been by seven points or less.
- Seattle U has 18 wins on the season, 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.
REDHAWKS' WAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
- Seattle U brings a 5-10 record from 10 previous WAC Tournament appearances into this year's event.
- In 2022-23, the fourth-seeded Redhawks fell 84-79 to eventual champs Grand Canyon. Cameron Tyson had 27 points and the Redhawks led in the first half but the Lopes rallied with a 55-point second half.
- In 2021-22, the Redhawks were the second seed after earning a share of the regular season title, earning a double bye into the semifinals, but ran into a surging Abilene Christian team (sixth seed) who earned a 78-76 upset win.
- In 2020-21, the fifth-seeded Redhawks opened with an 83-66 win over California Baptist in the opening round, then fell to eventual tournament champions Grand Canyon, 81-47, in the semifinals.
- The 2019-20 tournament was halted due to the COVID pandemic before the Redhawks could take to the court. Seattle U had earned the third seed.
- In 2018-19, the sixth-seed Redhawks dropped an 84-75 decision to third-seed Grand Canyon in the opening round of play.
- In 2017-18, the fourth-seed Redhawks downed fifth-seed UTRGV, 77-60, in the opening round, securing a 20-win season. They would go on to take top-seed New Mexico State to the limit before falling, 84-79, to the eventual champs.
- In 2016-17, the fifth-seed Redhawks went 0-1 with a 65-53 loss to fourth-seed Utah Valley in the opening round.
- In 2015-16, the third-seed Redhawks topped sixth-seed UTRGV in the quarterfinals, 75-52, advancing to face eventual tournament champ CSU Bakersfield in the semifinals. The 'Runners sent SU to a 72-47 setback.
- In 2014-15, third-seed Seattle U defeated sixth-seed Chicago State, 49-45, in the first round. The next night, Isiah Umipig tied a WAC Tournament record with eight made three-pointers to lead the Redhawks over UMKC, 69-63. In the championship game, New Mexico State scored the first nine points of the game on its way to an 80-61 victory over the Redhawks.
- Entering the 2013-14 tournament as the seventh seed, the Redhawks battled second-seeded New Mexico State throughout the contest, holding a six-point lead halfway through the second half. After New Mexico State rallied back, Seattle U had a chance to send the game into overtime, but a last-second putback would not fall, giving the Aggies a 70-68 victory.
- In 2012-13, the 10th seed Redhawks lost to Texas State, 68-56, in the first round.
ABOUT THE SERIES VS UTAH VALLEY
- Seattle U and Utah Valley are meeting for the 29th time, with the series tied 14-14 all-time.
- The teams have split the home-and-home regular season games each of the past three seasons, including a one-point win for the Redhawks in Seattle and a six-point UVU victory in the season's conference opener back in November in Orem.
- The teams met just once during the shortened 2020-21 season - a 93-92 overtime win for UVU in Seattle.
- The current two-game win streak for UVU is the first such streak for either side since 2019-20 season when the Redhawks swept the home-and-home, including a runaway 83-50 victory in the Redhawk Center (1/11/20) and an 87-85 overtime thriller in Orem, capped by a game-winning shot from Morgan Means.
ABOUT THE SERIES VS CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
- This marks the 15th all-time meeting between Seattle U and California Baptist with the Redhawks holding a slim 8-6 all-time advantage.
- The Redhawks have won six of the last seven meetings.
- Both games this season were won at the buzzer. In Seattle, Alex Schumacher scored the game-winning putback. In Riverside it was Kobe Williamson who came up with the game-tying putback and added the go-ahead and-1 free throw.
- Outside of one blowout win for each side, nine of the last 11 meetings have been within seven points, including six one-possession decisions.
ALL-WAC HONORS
- Cameron Tyson was named to the five-member, First Team All-WAC while Alex Schumacher picked up Second Team All-WAC honors.
- This marked the third straight season that Tyson has earned postseason honors. He was named to the Second Team All-WAC and All-Newcomer Team in 2021-22 and was a First Team All-WAC selection in 2022-23.
- This season, Tyson ranked second among all WAC players in scoring across the entirety of the season at 17.0 ppg. He is one of nine players to record a 30-point game, and one of just three to reach the mark multiple times.
- He led the league in three-point field goals made (91) and threes per game (3.25). Those marks also rank 30th and 12th nationally. This season Tyson became Seattle U's all-time leader in three pointers and just the second person to don a Seattle U jersey to surpass 2,000 career points. He enters the postseason just 16 points away from cracking the program's top-10 scoring list.
- Schumacher wraps up his collegiate career with his first All-WAC honors. He led the league all season long in total assists (151) and assists per game (4.9), while also averaging 13.4 ppg. He scored in double figures 21 times, including seven 20+ point games, while dishing six or more assists on 14 occasions.
- Schumacher's 151 assists to date this season ranks No. 9 in Seattle U's single-season record book. He led the Redhawks with 112 made free throws while shooting them at a 75.7% clip. He also added a team-high 40 steals on the season.
SEATTLE STORYLINES
- While a portion of his points came at other institutions (Idaho and Houston), Cameron Tyson has 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. Tyson sits at 2,063 and counting.
- On the offensive end, Seattle U is shooting 44.3% 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.
- 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 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 45% FGs and 77% FTs. Thess are career-highs for the fourth-year junior (due to COVID) who averaged 4.2 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 37% FGs last season.
- The Redhawks lead the WAC and are among the top teams in the nation in three-point percentage defense, holding teams to 29.8% 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.
- The Redhawks are 7-0 on the season when keeping opponents under 60 points.
- 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.
- The 20-point loss to UT Arlington on Feb. 29 was an anomaly this season as no previous game had been lost by more than seven points. Nine of the season's 12 losses have been by five or less points.
MILESTONE MARCH
A pair of Redhawks are racking up points and closing in on significant milestone markers.
- Cameron Tyson scored 15 points in the Redhawks last game, bringing his Seattle U total to 1,514 in three seasons. The last Seattle U player to reach the marker was Riley Grigsby (2019-23) who finished with 1,501.
- Tyson could now crack the Seattle U top-10 list in scoring. He is 16 points away from No. 10 Jawann Oldham (1976-80, 1530).
- Tyson surpassed the 2,000 point marker for his career on Feb. 24 vs. UTRGV. Following a 15-point effort in the Redhawks' last game, his collegiate career total to 2,063.
- 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 1,679 and counting.
ATOP THE WAC
In games played through March 11, the Redhawks lead the WAC in two team statistical categories and five individual categories.
- 3pt% Defense - 29.8% (also No. 12 in the nation)
- Defensive Rebounds - 26.94 per game (also No. 54 in the nation)
- Assists - Alex Schumacher, 151 (also No. 58 in the nation)
- Assists per game - Alex Schumacher, 4.9 (also No. 58 in the nation)
- 3pt% - Cameron Tyson, 37.9 (also No. 58 in the nation)
- 3pt per game - Cameron Tyson, 3.25 (also No. 11 in the nation)
- 3pt made - Cameron Tyson, 91 (also No. 30 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 434 three pointers in 140 games played ranks third among all active Division I players (and third among players across all three divisions). He trails Texas' Max Abmas (506, 154 games) and Marshall's Kamdyn Curfman (464, 155 games).
- Tyson also ranks No. 24 (in games through March 11) among active NCAA DI players in career points with 2,063.