The Seattle University Redhawks secured a hard-fought 87-80 victory over the Pepperdine University Waves at Firestone Fieldhouse. With a seven-point margin, the outcome was decided by a possession or two, as the teams' performances were closely matched. Seattle U's strong first-half showing, where they outscored Pepperdine 39-27, ultimately proved to be the difference maker.
In the second half, Pepperdine narrowed the gap, outscoring Seattle 53-48, but the Waves were unable to overcome the deficit established in the first half. Given the teams' respective NET rankings, with Seattle U at 125 and Pepperdine at 273, the result was not entirely unexpected, yet the closeness of the final score suggests that the teams were more evenly matched than their rankings might indicate.
A 29-point, 10-rebound performance was not achieved by any player, however, a notable effort from Heimbrodt, with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 blocks, helped Seattle U secure the win. His 10-13 field goal shooting and 4-6 free throw shooting were key to the team's success. The freshman standout, Maurer, also made significant contributions, erupting for 16 points and 7 rebounds, while adding 1 assist and 2 blocks to his stat line, with a notable 7-8 field goal shooting performance.
With the game on the line, the collective effort of Seattle U's top players paid off, as Heimbrodt's 5 blocks and Maurer's defensive presence helped limit Pepperdine's scoring opportunities. Erupting for 13 points, Yeo's performance, although not as dominant as Heimbrodt's, was still crucial, as his 4-12 field goal shooting and 4-6 free throw shooting contributed to the team's overall scoring. His 2 rebounds and 2 assists also demonstrated Yeo's ability to make an impact beyond scoring, rounding out a well-balanced performance from Seattle U's key players.
Finishing with 25 points, including five three-pointers, from David Mager was a notable effort, but ultimately not enough to propel Pepperdine to a win. His 10-18 shooting from the field was a highlight, yet the team's overall performance was lacking. The team's leading scorer, with a total of 25 points, Mager's contributions were substantial, though his limited rebounding, with only two on the night, was an area where he could have made a greater impact.
Despite the loss, Styles Phipps' 19 points and seven assists were a positive takeaway, as he shot efficiently from the field, going 8-13. His ability to get to the free-throw line and convert, making both of his attempts, was also a plus. Meanwhile, Stefan Cicic's 10 points and eight rebounds were overshadowed by the team's defensive struggles, and his three blocks, although a notable individual achievement, were not sufficient to offset the team's overall shortcomings.
A notable deviation from season averages was seen in the performance of Jojo Murphy, whose 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists significantly exceeded his typical output, with his point total surpassing his season average by 7.1 points. In contrast, the role of Aaron Clark was marked by a significant drop in production, as his 6 points and 1 rebound fell short of his season averages by 9.5 points and 2.3 rebounds, respectively, highlighting an off night for Clark. The supporting cast's performance was also influenced by the play of these two, with Murphy's elevated numbers and Clark's struggles contributing to the overall flow of the game.
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Final
The pre-game prediction of a Seattle U victory by 10.6 points ultimately proved correct, albeit by a narrower margin than anticipated. The actual result saw Seattle U emerge with a 7-point win, a testament to the competitiveness of the contest. While the prediction was broadly accurate, the discrepancy between the projected and actual margins suggests that Pepperdine put up a more formidable challenge than expected.
A closer examination of the team statistics reveals that the game was decided by the exceptional shooting performances of both teams, as well as Pepperdine's dominance on the offensive glass. The elevated effective field goal percentages for both Seattle U and Pepperdine indicate a high level of shooting proficiency, with both teams surpassing their season averages. Notably, Pepperdine's significant increase in offensive rebounding rate, nearly doubling their season average, allowed them to stay competitive and mitigate the damage inflicted by Seattle U's strong shooting. This combination of factors ultimately shaped the outcome of the game, with Seattle U's superior shooting just enough to overcome Pepperdine's relentless rebounding efforts.
The outcome of this game has significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations, as they both rely on winning the WCC conference tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament. For Seattle U, the win bolsters their position in the conference standings, and while their overall profile is still a work in progress, they have taken a crucial step in solidifying their footing ahead of the tournament. Conversely, Pepperdine's loss further diminishes their already slim chances, and with a dismal record against higher-tier opponents, they will need to drastically alter their trajectory to make a deep run in the conference tournament. As the season winds down, Seattle U's ability to capitalize on opportunities like this one will be crucial, and with this win, they have taken a tangible step forward, while Pepperdine's struggles against even the lowest rungs of opponents, like Seattle U in this Quad 4 matchup, raise fundamental questions about the program's competitiveness.