STOCKTON, Calif. – Seattle University men’s basketball battled back from a 15-point halftime deficit to pull within one point with 15 seconds remaining. But the first-half deficit was too much to overcome as the Pacific Tigers remained unbeaten at home this season in a 56-54 final at the Alex G. Spanos Center Saturday night.
Brayden Maldonado led all scorers with 20 points, including 15 in the second half as the Redhawks (14-8, 3-6 WCC) worked to mount a comeback. His sixth three of the night cut the deficit to one, 55-54, with 15 second remaining. But after the Tigers hit one of two free throws to push it back to two, Maleek Arington’s potential game-tying runner in the lane would not fall.
Pacific (14-8, 5-4 WCC) came out of the gates the aggressor, quickly leading 10-2. The Redhawks battled back into it as a Junseok Yeo three made it 13-12 Pacific at the 12:51 mark of the first half. But the Tigers would open the game back up, closing out the half outscoring Seattle U 20-6 to take a 33-18 lead into the break.
Momentum swung in favor of the Redhawks to begin the second half as the visitors used defensive pressure to create offense and reel off a 13-2 run, trimming the spread down to four, 35-31, with 14:14 remaining.
The Tigers pushed their lead back to 14, 51-37, before Seattle U made its final run down the stretch. Despite the late effort, the Redhawks would never lead in the game.
Joining Maldonado in double figures was Yeo with 13 points. Will Heimbrodt added nine points and three blocks. Maleek Arington had six assists and just one turnover.
Pacific was paced by TJ Wainwright’s 15 points. Isaac Jack added 114 points and Justin Rochelle had 10. The Tigers won the battle on the boards, 39-27.
The Redhawks remain on the road for one more West Coast Conference game, traveling east across their home state to face Washington State in Pullman on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Tip off from Beasley Coliseum is 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
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