SEATTLE — When you play Seattle University in men's basketball this season, two things are certain to happen: Seattle will turn the ball over a lot and it will force you to turn it over even more.
Such was the case Saturday night, when Seattle and CSUB played a fast-paced game that came down to the final seconds before the Redhawks prevailed, 76-72, in Key Arena.
Freshman guard Stephon Carter (Garces HS) led CSUB with 19 points. Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) added 15, including a clutch three-pointer late that got the Roadrunners within two points.
Alex Jones came off the bench to lead all scorers with 21 points for Seattle.
Among NCAA Division I teams, only Missouri entered Saturday's action having forced more turnovers than Seattle. Sure enough, the Redhawks frenetic style forced 27 Roadrunner turnovers, the second-highest total in school history. But CSUB displayed its defensive grit as well, using 10 steals to help create 17 Seattle turnovers.
CSUB never trailed through the game's first 12 minutes, but Seattle broke a 19-19 tie with a 12-1 run to take a 31-20 lead. The Redhawks led by 13 at the break, 40-27, before CSUB battled back time and again in the second half, only to see Seattle parry each thrust.
Six times the Roadrunners had the ball with a chance to get within a single possession, but they couldn't get over the hump until a Carter layup made it a 69-66 game with 2:12 to play. A Blakley three made it 72-70 with 31 seconds left before two Taylor Olson free throws pushed the deficit back to four.
Still, the Roadrunners had a golden opportunity in the waning seconds. After Carter fought for a tougher jumper in the lane to make it 74-72, Donavan Bragg fouled Aaron Broussard, sending the poor free throw shooter (55 percent) to the line for a one-and-one opportunity with 19 seconds remaining. Sure enough, Broussard missed the free throw, but Jones grabbed the offensive board and laid it back in for the points that sealed the game for the Redhawks.
CSUB will close its final season of transition to full NCAA Division I status Tuesday when it heads across Washington to face NCAA contender Gonzaga University. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
