SEATTLE – Seattle University men's basketball nearly put a halt to Utah Valley's unbeaten streak in Western Athletic Conference play, but could not quite complete the comeback in a 70-66 setback Saturday night in the Redhawk Center.
After trailing by as many as 14 in the second half, the Redhawks (8-12, 3-3 WAC) pulled within two multiple times in the final minutes. But the one-two punch of Carter Welling and Dominick Nelson could not be slowed as the duo accounted for 40 points, including the final four that helped seal the seventh straight WAC win for the Wolverines (15-6, 7-0 WAC).
Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe paced four Redhawks in double figures, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season. Paris Dawson added 11 points while John Christofilis and Maleek Arington chipped in 10 each.
Welling tallied a game-high 24 points on 10-of-18 FGs. Nelson added 16 points as no other Wolverine scored more than six in the game.
A historically staunch rivalry that was knotted at 14 wins apiece entering the game, the opening 20-minute frame put that on display once again as the teams battled to a 29-29 tie at the break.
UVU broke things open early in the second half, knocking down nine of their first 14 shots to jump out to a 22-8 advantage and lead 51-37 with 12:29 to play. The Redhawks used their defense to claw their way back and a quick 8-0 spurt trimmed the spread to six, 51-45, with 10:30 to go.
After Welling made it 66-58 on an alley oop dunk just before the under-four media timeout, the Redhawks would score six straight, cutting the deficit to a single possession with 2:09 to play.
Welling would again make it a four-point game, but a pair of Arington free throws kept the Redhawks alive with 35 seconds to play.
Moncrieffe had a chance to tie the game with nine seconds remaining, but Welling came up big again, turning away the shot and Nelson converted a pair of free throws on the other end.
The Redhawks head back out on the road next week, traveling to face Grand Canyon on Thursday, Jan. 30. The WAC match0-up will air live on ESPNU with a 9 p.m. Phoenix Time tip-off.
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