SEATTLE – Brayden Maldonado is still a picture of perfection at the free-throw line. On Saturday night, his flawless foul shooting couldn’t have come at a better time.
Maldonado hit six straight free throws in the final 38 seconds, capping a 22-point performance, and Seattle University men's basketball closed out a season-opening four-game homestand by fending off Idaho State inside Redhawk Center, 83-74.
The Redhawks (3-1), had a 19-point lead near the midpoint of the second half before Idaho State (2-2) cut it all the way down to five just inside the two-minute mark. But SU outscored the Bengals down the stretch, 6-2, thanks entirely to Maldonado, who hadn’t even gotten to the line until those final seconds.
For the season, the senior guard is a perfect 15-for-15. He also hit 6-of-11 from the field on Saturday, and has a .627 percentage through the first four games. That includes .609 (14-of-24) behind the 3-point line after a 4-of-5 effort against the Bengals.
Junseok Yeo added 15 points for Seattle U, and Jojo Murphy chipped in 14 off the bench.
After allowing Idaho State the first basket of the game, the Redhawks scored the next eight points and led the rest of the way.
A 43-34 halftime advantage was still a nine-point margin at 53-34 when SU went on a 15-5 scoring tear. That made it a 19 bulge at 68-49 with 11:03 left.
But the Bengals chipped away. A 13-2 scoring run cut the margin to single digits at 70-62 with 7:21 still to play. It stayed in single digits, and Idaho State got within five at 77-72 on a pair of free throws from Jamison Guerra at the 1:58 mark.
The teams traded turnovers three times. Seattle U got a defensive stop when it forced Guerra into a missed 3-pointer with 48 seconds to go, and Maleek Arington grabbed the rebound.
Maldonado was fouled with 38.6 seconds remaining and hit both free throws, returning it to a three-possession game at 79-72. The Redhawks got another stop, this one on a Bengals layup attempt. Brock Felder pulled down the board and got it to Maldonado, who was fouled with 24.7 seconds left. Again, he hit both for an 81-72 advantage.
A Guerra lay-in at 19.1 seconds made it 81-74. Maldonado then was fouled at the 16.7 mark and again hit both, effectively clinching the outcome.
“We got up 19 and had a little more cushion (than in last week’s 73-71 loss to Cal Poly), and we needed all of it,” Head Coach Chris Victory said. “There were 11 minutes to go, and we talked to the guys about how the next three or four minutes would be the big difference in the game. Idaho State is a scrappy team.”
A 7-0 Redhawks scoring run expanded a 13-9 lead to 20-9 midway through the first half. It was down to three at 32-29 when Seattle U nailed three straight from behind the arc: Yeo on a second-chance opportunity from the right corner, Maldonado from straight on, then Maldonado again from the left of the lane on an assist from Arington after Arington came up with a steal in backcourt, making it 41-29.
Seattle U took a 43-34 lead into halftime after the Bengals scored the final four points of the half.
By the Numbers
- For the second straight game, the Redhawks topped 60 percent shooting, finishing at 62.0 (31 of 50). That included 55 percent (11-of-20) from downtown. In Wednesday’s 94-67 victory against Eastern Washington, SU hit .649 (37-of-57).
- Saturday’s percentage included 66.7 percent in the first half (18-of-27), making it three consecutive halves of better than 60 percent. On Wednesday, it was 65.5 percent in the first half and 64.3 in the second. In Saturday’s second half, SU finished at 56.5 percent (13-of-23).
- Arrington, who played two seasons (2022-23 and 23-24) for Idaho State before coming to Seattle U, dished out a season-high nine assists. His career high is 11.
- Yeo pulled down five of SU’s 23 rebounds.
- The Redhawks took care of the basketball, tying their season low of 12 turnovers.
- Caleb Van De Griend led Idaho State with a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Up Next
After four straight home games to open the season, the Redhawks take to the road for the first time when they visit Stanford on Friday, Nov. 21. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m.
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