SEATTLE – Seattle University men’s basketball continues its three-game West Coast Conference road swing on Sunday, Jan. 4 in Moraga, Calif., facing off against 2024-25 WCC regular season champs Saint Mary’s. Tip off from University Credit Union Pavilion is 5 p.m. The game will broadcast live on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE REDHAWKS
- Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM PT
- Seattle U (12-4, 1-4 WCC) at Saint Mary's (14-2, 3-0 WCC)
- University Credit Union Pavilion, Moraga, CA
- Live Stats
- Watch on ESPN+
- Game Notes
QUICK HITS
- The Redhawks went toe-to-toe with No. 7 Gonzaga for 45 minutes, leading for nearly 35, on Friday night before ultimately coming up short in an 80-72 overtime decision at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
- Seattle U is now 12-4 overall and 1-2 in WCC play. The 12-4 record is the best start to a season in Seattle U’s modern DI era. The previous best record through 16 games was 12-4 in 2022-23. Those Redhawks went on to win their first Western Athletic Conference regular season championship and finish the year 20-12.
- The 80 points scored by the Zags was their third lowest of the season, while the 29-point first half matched Gonzaga’s season low, which previously happened in a 101-61 loss to Michigan.
- The Redhawks’ defense never allowed a scoring run of more than eight, edged the Zags on the boards, 41-40 and allowed just four three pointers on the night. Seattle U also turned a better result in points off turnovers with a 17-11 edge.
- Brayden Maldonado led Seattle U with 17 points, five assists and four steals, while John Christofilis provided a big spark off the bench, knocking down four three-pointers on his way to 12 points. In his return to the Kennel, Junseok Yeo, who spent two-plus seasons at Gonzaga before transferring to Seattle U this past offseason, added 10 points. Will Heimbrodt had 10 points and 12 rebounds for, and Houran Dan chipped in seven points and eight rebounds.
ABOUT THE SERIES VS SAINT MARY'S
- This marks the 35th all-time meeting Seattle U and Saint Mary’s, though just the third in Seattle U’s modern DI era.
- Seattle U holds a 24-10 all-time record against the Gaels.
- Saint Mary’s leads the series in Moraga, 9-6.
- The teams met 18 times as West Coast Athletic Conference (now West Coast Conference) opponents from 1971-80. Seattle U won 13 of those 18 meetings.
- Since Seattle U’s return to DI, the teams have met twice in Moraga, with both contests going to the Gaels.
- The first games between the teams were in the 1953-54 season.
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.
- Coming off of their 70-66 win over Washington, the Redhawks broke into the top-100 for the first time this season, coming in at No. 99.
The Redhawks’ peak was No. 93 on Dec. 23 and in games played through Jan. 2, they sit at 100, good for fourth best in the WCC behind Gonzaga (4), Saint Mary’s (21) and Santa Clara (70).
WEST COAST CONFERENCE STAT LEADERS
In games played through Jan. 2, the Redhawks rank:
- 1st in blocks per game (5.44)
- 2nd in turnover margin (3.25)
- 2nd in scoring defense (66.7)
- 3rd in opponent 3pt FG% (29.8)
- 3rd in steals per game (8.87)
- 3rd in scoring margin (11.6)
- Brayden Maldonado ranks 1st in free-throw percentage (95.1), T-3rd in steals per game (1.9) and 6th in scoring (15.8 ppg).
- Will Heimbrodt leads the league in blocks (2.7).
- Maleek Arington is T-3rd in steals per game (1.9) and 3rd in assists/TO ratio (3.4).
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
The Redhawks will face a third straight West Coast Conference road test, traveling to Corvallis, Ore., on Jan. 8 ot face Oregon State. Tip off from Gil Coliseum is 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
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