SEATTLE – Call it a gutsy win. Call it a signature win.
Call it a historic win.
The Seattle University men’s basketball team pulled off all three on Friday night.
Austin Maurer scored a career-high 19 points, Maleek Arington hit four clutch free throws in the final 40 seconds, and the Redhawks beat the Washington Huskies inside Climate Pledge Arena, 70-66.
It’s the second year in a row that SU has defeated its crosstown rival – and the first time ever that it has put together consecutive victories against the Huskies. Last December 23, the Redhawks won on Washington’s home court, 79-70. The teams have played 41 times altogether since their first-ever meeting way back in the 1953 NCAA West Regional semifinals.
At 10-2, Seattle is off to its best start since the 1966-67 team went 10-1 and 11-2.
DOWN GO THE DAWGS‼️ pic.twitter.com/BHdPnVVl0F
— Seattle U Men's Basketball (@seattleumbb) December 20, 2025
Brayden Maldonado added 14 points and six rebounds for the Redhawks, and Junseok Yeo chipped in 12 points.
The back-and-forth contest in front of 4,299 fans had 17 lead changes and eight ties. For the final 11 minutes, neither team managed more than a one-possession lead until Seattle U forged a trio of four-point advantages inside the last minute, including the eventual final score.
Tied at 62-62, sophomore center Maurer – making his second consecutive start after playing a reserve role though the first 10 games – hit a short jumper with 1:02 left. Arington then drained a pair of free throws at 44.8 seconds to make it 66-62.
Desmond Claude countered with two free throws for Washington (7-4), cutting it to 66-64 at 37.6 seconds.
The teams traded scoreless possessions, and SU had the ball back when Maurer was fouled with 19.5 seconds remaining. He nailed both, pushing the lead back to four at 68-64. Claude went back to the line for Washington at the 14-second mark and hit two more, making it 68-66.
When the Huskies couldn’t come up with the steal, Arington was fouled again with 11.3 seconds showing. He hit his first free throw, and Washington then called its final timeout. Arington came back to the line and hit his second for a 70-66 lead.
Hannes Steinbach missed a 3-pointer for the Huskies. The rebound bounced off the rim toward the left side, where there was a battle for the loose ball. Quimari Peterson secured it for UW, but the horn sounded before he could do anything with it.
The Redhawks had a 26-25 lead near the end of the first half, But Washington scored the last four points to take a 29-26 lead into the break, then started the second half on a 7-1 run to take its largest lead of the night at 36-27.
It was still a nine-point margin at 38-28 when Seattle U went on an 11-2 surge to get within 42-40. The margin was never greater than five after that.
By the Numbers
--Along with his second straight start, Maurer had his second straight career scoring high. He tallied 14 in Wednesday’s 79-78 victory at UC Davis. On Friday, hit 7-of-11 from the floor and 4 of 4 at the line.
--Arington came into the game with a season mark of 64 percent at the free-throw line, but picked a perfect time for a perfect night. It was his second 4-of-4 game this season. He also grabbed six rebounds and handed out a team-high five assists.
--Speaking of perfect free throw performances, Brayden Maldonado was 3-of-3. He now has hit 22 in a row. He started the season with 21 straight before his first – and so far only – miss. Maldonado is 43 of 44 for the season (.977).
--After shooting just 30.3 percent (10-of-33) during the first half, the Redhawks upped that to an even 50 percent (13-of-26) in the second half. They finished the night at 39 percent (23-of-59).
--Defensively, SU kept the Huskies even colder at 36.9 percent (24-of-65).
--Desmond Claude led Washington with 24 points. Steinbach had a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Up Next
The Redhawks play their final pre-Christmas game on Monday when they visit Texas-San Antonio. Tip-off against the Roadrunners is at noon Pacific time. It will be streamed on ESPN+.
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