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Redhawks Host Miners Under Historic Roof at Climate Pledge Arena

Seattle University men’s basketball continues its three-game homestand with the season’s first (of five) games to be played at Climate Pledge Arena. The Redhawks welcome UTEP to Seattle for a 5 p.m. tip-off on Sunday, Dec. 7. As part of the evening, the 1966 Seattle U team that handed Texas Western (the forerunner of UTEP) its only loss of the season before the Miners went on to win the NCAA Tournament, will be recognized. Several former members of that SU team are planning to be in attendance.

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Redhawks Host Miners Under Historic Roof at Climate Pledge ArenaRedhawks Host Miners Under Historic Roof at Climate Pledge Arena

SEATTLE – Seattle University men’s basketball continues its three-game homestand with the season’s first (of five) games to be played at Climate Pledge Arena. The Redhawks welcome UTEP to Seattle for a 5 p.m. tip-off on Sunday, Dec. 7.  As part of the evening, the 1966 Seattle U team that handed Texas Western (the forerunner of UTEP) its only loss of the season before the Miners went on to win the NCAA Tournament, will be recognized. Several former members of that SU team are planning to be in attendance.

FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS

QUICK HITS

  • Seattle U earned a 97-43 win over Puget Sound on Dec. 3, moving to 6-2 on the season.
  • The six wins through eight games is the best start to a season since 2022-23. That year, the Redhawks won five straight before suffering a loss. Their record went to 8-2 before suffering a third loss.
  • Redshirt freshman Ray Adams had a breakout performance against Puget Sound, recording the team’s first double-double of the season. He finished with career highs of 11 points and 10 rebounds while adding four steals and three assists.
  • The Redhawks allowed just 11 second-half points (3-24 FGs) to the Loggers for their best half of defense of the season.
  • Seattle U pulled down a season-high 56 rebounds – more than a quarter of its season total of 204 through the first seven games. The previous high this season was 36 in the season opener against Denver on Nov. 3.
  • The Redhawks have shot better than 50% from the field in four of their first eight games and have shot over 45%  in every contest. Their season average of 52.6% ranks among the best in the nation.
  • Brayden Maldonado made his first 21 free throws of the season before suffering a miss. He currently ranks third in the WCC and 11th in the nation at 96.4% (31-32) from the stripe.

ABOUT THE SERIES VS UTEP

  • The Redhawks and Miners have 13 all-time meetings with UTEP leading, 7-6.
  • This marks the third straight year the teams have faced off, but the first time in Seattle since 1969.
  • Seattle U is 4-0 in games played in Seattle, most memorably a 74-72 win on March 5, 1966. That SU win was the lone blemish on the Miners’ otherwise perfect season that ended in an NCAA Championship. The historic “Glory Road” 1965-66 then-Texas Western squad finished the year 28-1 after beating Kentucky for the championship.
  • The teams last met almost exactly a year ago in El Paso with UTEP winning 88-72.
  • Paris Dawson had 18 points, Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe had 14 and John Christofilis added 13 in the loss.
  • On Dec. 30, 2023 in El Paso, Seattle U led wire-to-wire in a 73-61 victory, then the first meeting since 1996.
  • Cameron Tyson finished with a game-high 25 points on 9-12 FGs, including six threes.

WEST COAST CONFERENCE STAT LEADERS
In games played through Dec. 5:

  • The Redhawks are first in the league in team FG% (52.6%), second in team 3PT FG% (39.1%) and team blocks per game (4.88), and third in scoring defense (65.6) and steals per game (8.88).
  • Brayden Maldonado ranks seventh in scoring (16.4 pgg). He also ranks fourth in FG% (54.5%) and second free-throw percentage (96.9%).
  • Will Heimbrodt is ninth in scoring (15.1 ppg), third in FG% (61.8%) and leads the league in blocks per game (3.0).
  • Maleek Arington leads the WCC in steals per game (2.5).

NCAA NET RANKING

  • The first NET ranking of the season debuted on Dec. 1. Seattle U debuted at 109 which was the fifth highest in the West Coast Conference.
  • In games played through Dec. 5, the Redhawks have moved up to 105, still fifth in the WCC behind Gonzaga (2), Saint Mary’s (27), Santa Clara (35) and Pacific (77).

NATIONAL STATS
In games played through Dec. 5, the Redhawks rank among the nation’s best in the following team categories:

  • FG % (52.6%) - 9th
  • Effective FG% (.592) - 18th
  • 3PT% (39.1%) - 26th
  • Turnovers Forced Per Game (16.38) - 26th
  • Turnover Margin (4.0) - 39th
  • Scoring defense (65.6) - 40th
  • Blocks per game (4.9) - 42nd

In games played through Dec. 5, the Redhawks rank among the nation’s best in the following individual categories:

SEATTLE STORYLINES

  • Seattle U’s 77-69 win at ACC member Stanford on Friday, Nov. 21 marked the first ever win against the Cardinal in seven all-time meetings.
  • The Redhawks shot at a blistering 64.5% clip (37-57 FGs) on Nov. 12 versus Eastern Washington, marking their highest field-goal percentage since hitting at a 68.4% clip (39-57 FGs) on Jan. 24, 2009 in a 99-82 win over SIU-Edwardsville.
  • The Redhawks had another stellar shooting night on Nov. 15, hitting at a 62% clip (31-50) against the Bengals, including 11-20 from three.
  • In game-by-game stats that date back through the 2001-02 season, this marks the first back-to-back outings shooting over 60% from the field.
  • 2025-26 marks the Redhawks’ return the West Coast Conference. Seattle U was a one time member of the then West Coast Athletic Conference from 1971-1980, before dropping from NCAA Division I. The university was accepted into the West Coast Conference on May 10, 2024 and began its return to competition in the WCC in fall 2025.
  • Seattle U has three international players hailing from Asia Pacific countries, including senior Junseok Yeo (South Korea), sophomore Houran Dan (China) and redshirt-freshman Yuto Kawashima (Japan).
  • Based on roster data provided to the NCAA by member institutions, Yeo is the lone player from Korea on a Division I roster, Dan is one of just five players from China on a DI roster and Kawashima is one of seven players from Japan on a DI roster.
  • Seattle U hosts all four other Division I programs in the state of Washington during the 2025-26 season. The Redhawks beat Eastern Washington, 94-67, on Nov. 12. They also host Washington on Dec. 19, Washington State on Dec. 30 and Gonzaga on Jan. 17.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
Seattle U has gone 55-14 (.797) on its home court during the past four+ seasons under Head Coach Chris Victor. That record includes a 41-10 (.804) mark at the Redhawk Center and a 14-4 (.778) mark in 18 total games played at Climate Pledge Arena.

GET YOUR TICKETS
Single-game tickets, mini plans and group experiences are on sale now. All ticket options may be purchased online at goseattleu.com/tix or over the phone at 206-398-GOSU.

UP NEXT
A three-game homestand concludes on Saturday, Dec. 13 as the Redhawks return from a finals week break to host Warner Pacific. Tip off is 5 p.m. from the Redhawk Center.

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