Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Seattle
Wildcats Overcome A Bad Start, Bad Shooting, To Post A 65-61 Home Court Win Over Seattle University
12/5/2010 1:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Weber State men's basketball coach, Randy Rahe, is a somewhat of a superstitious sort of fellow, a believer in the basketball gods and the way fate sometimes plays into the equation. Saturday afternoon inside the Dee Events Center, Rahe was on their good side as the Wildcats overcame a 15-points first half deficit, and 38 percent shooting from the field, to defeat Seattle University, 65-61 before 4,390 fans.
“You work hard, you prepare hard, then sometimes it just goes all awry,” said Rahe. “Seattle University came in full of energy, and will power, and we didn't match it. Hats off to them, they played well, they played hard and they played with a purpose. We were very fortunate to come out of top of this one.”
The Redhawks, who are in the midst of re-classifying into NCAA Division I, jumped out to a 30-15 lead in the first twelve and half minutes of the game, hitting 69 percent during that span. Aaron Broussard, a 6-5, 215 forward, did most of the damage hitting 5-8 from the field and 3-4 from the line for 13 first half points. The Wildcats managed to hang on, going on an 11-5 scoring run to close out the half, pulling to within nine at 35-26. Seattle University ended up making 15-30 first half shots, while holding the Wildcats to just 9-27 (.333).
“I told our guys half time that we needed to come out and be more aggressive on the defensive end, and not let them catch the ball where ever they wanted,” said Rahe. “We held them to just 35 percent (9-26) and I thought that was the key to the comeback.”
The Redhawks led 42-30 at the 16:36 mark, but a three-pointer from Lindsey Hughey, and a lay up from Kyle Bullinger, brought the 'Cats back to within seven. An old-fashion three-point play by Trevor Morris, with 8:19 left, finally brought WSU to within one at 50-49.
Seattle University then employed a stingy half-court 1-3-1 trap which stymied the Wildcats on several possessions, and allowed the 'Hawks to maintain a two to three point margin. The 'Cats finally got over the hump with 1:51 remaining on a deep right-hand corner three-ball from Scott Bamforth to take a 56-54 lead. WSU upped the margin to four (58-54) just 41 seconds later on a jumper by Trevor Morris, giving him a career high 16 points.
SU's Chad Rasmussen., who had scored just 10 total points in seven game appearances, nailed his third three-pointer of the game, giving him 15 on the night, to puled the Redhawks to within one at 60-59 with 32 seconds left.
Bamforth was fouled and made two free throws with 23 seconds remaining to put the 'Cat back up by three (62-59), but Broussard answered with a bucket to make it 62-61 with 21 seconds left.
Kyle Bullinger was fouled on the inbounds pass, but made just one of two (63-61) with 20 seconds left. The Redhawks brought the ball down court looking to tie, or win the game with a three, with 10 seconds left, but Damian Lillard picked SU guard Cervante' Burrell near mid court and was fouled by Sterling Carter. Lillard made both free throws (65-61) giving the Wildcats the four-point lead they needed to seal the game.
Aaron Broussard led all scorers with 23 points. Chad Rasmussen's 15 was Seattle's only other double figure scorer.
Trevor Morris scored a WSU career high 16 points to lead the Wildcats. Damian Lillard had 15 and Scott Bamforth came off the bench for 10. The Wildcats move to 4-3 on the season. They won' play again until next Saturday, December 11 (next week is finals week) when they travel to Cedar City, Utah to face the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds in a 7:35 p.m. (MST) tipoff at The Centrum.
