LAS VEGAS, Nevada – For the second consecutive year and the sixth all-time, Seattle University men's basketball advances to the Western Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals, this time with a 69-63 win over Abilene Christian Thursday night at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
The fifth-seed Redhawks led by as many as 11 and held the advantage for most of the night over the fourth-seeded Wildcats, taking the rubber match meeting after a 1-1 split in the regular season.
Seattle U (14-17) got big performances from its pair of fifth-year forwards as Kobe Williamson paced four Redhawks in double figures with 20 points and nine rebounds. Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe added 18 points and nine boards while Brayden Maldonado tallied 16 points and Paris Dawson chipped in 10.
The Redhawks broke open a defensive battle with an 11-0 run midway through the first half to lead 19-13 with 6:30 to play. Back-to-back buckets by Williamson late in the frame would push the lead to eight, 27-19. Seattle U would take a 30-25 into the break.
The Wildcats (16-16) rallied to tie the score twice in the second half, the last at the 14:20 mark to make it 35-35.
Moncrieffe and Maldonado buried back-to-back buckets to put Seattle U back in the lead, 40-35. Four straight Williamson points pushed the spread to 11, 57-46, with 7:29 to play.
ACU would make things interested in the final minute, pulling within a single possession, 66-63, but Maldonado and Williamson each hit a pair of free throws to seal the win.
The Redhawks advance to Friday's semifinals where they will face regular-season champion and top seed Utah Valley. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. at the Orleans Arena. The game will air on ESPN+.
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