SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Seattle University men’s basketball closed out non-conference play Monday afternoon, edging UTSA, 71-68, at the Convocation Center in San Antonio to secure its sixth straight victory and finish the non-league slate with an impressive 11–2 record.
Brayden Maldonado led Seattle U with 15 points, knocking down three triples and calmly converting late free throws as the Redhawks protected a narrow lead in the final minutes. Junseok Yeo added 13 points while Austin Maurer chipped in 11 points and Will Heimbrodt scored 10 to go along with seven rebounds and three blocks.
The Redhawks built a 37–24 halftime lead and withstood a strong second-half push from the Roadrunners, leaning on timely defense and clutch execution down the stretch to seal the road win.
Seattle U came out aggressive on both ends, forcing early turnovers and converting them into points in the paint to jump out to a double-digit lead late in the first half. The Redhawks led by as many as 13 before taking a 37-24 advantage into the break.
UTSA (4-8) responded in the second half, shooting over 50 percent after halftime and briefly taking the lead midway through the period. Seattle U answered each run, however, using offensive rebounding and fast break opportunities to stay within striking distance until regaining the lead for good inside the final three minutes.
With the game tied late, Maldonado buried a key three-pointer, and Yeo followed with a fast break finish after a steal to swing momentum back to the Redhawks. Seattle U then closed the game at the free-throw line, hitting critical shots in the final minute to hold off UTSA’s last push.
“I’m proud of this team for finding a way to win,” said head coach Chris Victor. “It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we had some tough guys step up and make big plays down the stretch.
“Our success in going 11-2 in non-conference play is because we’ve continued to improve every day, and that has to remain our focus as we head into WCC play.”
The Redhawks finished with 38 points in the paint and forced 16 UTSA turnovers, turning defense into offense throughout the afternoon.
Seattle U breaks from play until after the Christmas holiday when they will open West Coast Conference play with a two-game homestand. First up is a Dec. 28 meeting with San Francisco. The Redhawks and Dons will tip off at 5 p.m. from the Redhawk Center.
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