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WAC SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: MBB vs. Grand Canyon

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Fourth seed Seattle University men's basketball (19-13) has advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 Hercules Tires Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, facing top-seed Grand Canyon (27-4) on Friday, March 15. Tip off from the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

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WAC SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: MBB vs. Grand CanyonWAC SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: MBB vs. Grand Canyon

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Fourth seed Seattle University men's basketball (19-13) has advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 Hercules Tires Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, facing top-seed Grand Canyon (27-4) on Friday, March 15. Tip off from the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS

QUICK HITS

  • Seattle U won big in its WAC Tournament opener Thursday, downing California Baptist, 81-57, in the quarterfinals.
  • The win advances the fourth-seeded Redhawks to the semifinals for the third time in the past four years and the sixth time ever to reach the semifinals.
  • The win over the Lancers was the 19th of the season, inching the Redhawks 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.
  • Cameron Tyson scored 18 points to lead the Redhawks against CBU. His 16th point of the night tied him for No. 10 on Seattle U's all-time scoring list (Jawann Oldham, 1976-80, 1530) Tyson now has 1,532 points (and counting) as a Redhawk.
  • Alex Schumacher dished nine dimes versus CBU, bringing his season total to 160 which ranks No. 6 in Seattle U's single-season record book.
  • Seattle U remained undefeated at 8-0 when holding an opponent under 60 points.

REDHAWKS' WAC TOURNAMENT HISTORY

  • Seattle U is 6-10 all-time in the WAC Tournament following its 81-57 quarterfinal win over California Baptist Thursday.
  • 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 GRAND CANYON

  • This marks the 26th all-time meeting between Seattle U and Grand Canyon, with the Lopes holding a 17-6 advantage in the series.
  • The teams split the regular season series this year, each winning on their home court.
  • The Redhawks have won three of the last five meetings, including an 86-79 victory on Jan. 20 in Seattle. It marked the first WAC loss for the Lopes, also snapping a 14-game win streak.
  • Seattle U swept the regular season home-and-home series in 2022-23, winning 63-58 at the Redhawk Center on Feb. 11 and 65-54 at GCU Arena on Feb. 24, before falling to the eventual WAC Tournament champs in the semifinals, 84-79.
  • The win at GCU Arena on Feb. 24, 2023 was just the second all-time for Seattle U, which last won in Phoenix on Jan. 30, 2016, in a 59-57 final.
  • GCU is 3-0 in WAC Tournament match-ups.

SEATTLE STORYLINES

  • 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.
  • On the season, the Redhawks are 5-10 in games decided by five points or less. Twelve of 13 total losses have been by seven points or less.
  • 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 44.6% 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.
  • 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 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 46% FGs, 29% 3s and 78% FTs. These 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 29.6% 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 8-0 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.

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.

MILESTONE MARCH - POINTS

  • Cameron Tyson scored 18 points in the Redhawks last game, bringing his Seattle U total to 1,532 in three seasons. That number cracks the Seattle U top-10 scoring list as Tyson passes Jawann Oldham (1976-80, 1530).
  • Tyson surpassed the 2,000 point marker for his career on Feb. 24 vs. UTRGV. Following an 18-point effort in the Redhawks' last game, his collegiate career total to 2,081.
  • 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 1,687 and counting.

MILESTONE MARCH - REBOUNDS

  • Cameron Tyson pulled in five rebounds versus CBU on March 14, hitting an even 500 for his career.
  • Alex Schumacher collected seven rebounds on Feb. 22 versus Stephen F. Austin, surpassing 500 career rebounds. He now has 514 for his career.
  • Kobe Williamson hauled in 11 rebounds on Jan. 26 versus Utah Valley, surpassing 500 career rebounds. He now has 579 for his career.

ATOP THE WAC
In games played through March 14, the Redhawks lead the WAC in two team statistical categories and five individual categories.

  • 3pt% Defense - 29.6% (also No. 11 in the nation)
  • Defensive Rebounds - 26.88 per game (also No. 59 in the nation)
  • Assists - Alex Schumacher, 160 (also No. 47 in the nation)
  • Assists per game - Alex Schumacher, 5.0 (also No. 50 in the nation)
  • 3pt% - Cameron Tyson, 38.5 (also No. 51 in the nation)
  • 3pt per game - Cameron Tyson, 3.28 (also No. 10 in the nation)
  • 3pt made - Cameron Tyson, 95 (also No. 27 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 438 three pointers in 141 games played ranks third among all active Division I players (and third among players across all three divisions). He trails Texas' Max Abmas (509, 155 games) and Marshall's Kamdyn Curfman (464, 155 games).
  • Tyson also ranks No. 24 (in games through March 14) among active NCAA DI players in career points with 2,081.

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