SEATTLE – Tarleton State Men's Basketball ran into the red-hot shooting Seattle U Redhawks suffering a 91-54 loss on Thursday night at the Redhawk Center.
The Texans (10-14 overall, 5-4 WAC) were unable to stall the Redhawks (9-13, 4-4) during their lights-out shooting performance. Seattle U shot 57.1 percent from the floor and 60 percent from deep. SU made 15 triples, the most the Texans have ever given up in a WAC game and tied for the most this season.
Keitenn Bristow knocked down a game best 22 points. The freshman was a perfect nine-for-nine at the line and 6-for-20 from the floor. He tallied two steals in nearly 38 minutes of action.
Bubu Benjamin posted 19 points while sinking four triples. The sophomore scored 14 in the first half. He also posted a game-best six boards while playing 40 minutes for the seventh time this season.
Seattle U had four players score in double digits. Brayden Maldonado made six triples to score 18 points.
Bristow started the game sinking a triple to give the Texans the first bucket of the night in just 16 seconds. But, then the Redhawks took over, more specifically, Bryan Maldonado. SU's Maldonado made three triples in the span of 100 seconds to score nine of the Redhawks first 11 to put them ahead, 11-5. Seattle U continued their run to lead 19-5 just seven minutes in and forced a Texan timeout.
Benjamin nailed a three from deep after the timeout to end the SU run and cut the deficit to 11, 19-8. The sophomore sunk his triple of the night three minutes later to bring the visitors back within 11 at the midpoint. Benjamin buried his third triple another two minutes later, but the Redhawks weren't slowing up either. Seattle U broke off a 7-0 run to lead by as many as 20 in the first half.
The combo of Bristow and Benjamin scored 25 of the Texans 29 first half points. Bristow scored six straight Tarleton points before Benjamin ended the half with his fourth triple with 22 ticks left. The duo wasn't enough to cut into the deficit with the red-hot Redhawks taking a 19-point lead into the break, 48-29. SU shot 53 percent from the floor and made eight from downtown at a 57.1 percent rate. The Texans shot slightly lower from the floor at 45.5 percent and made five from deep at a 47 percent rate.
Coming out of the break, the Redhawks picked up where they left off. SU broke off on a 12-0 run over the first four minutes. Seattle U extended its run to 26-2 across the first nine minutes of action to open the half.
The Texans were unable to stop SU in the second half with the Redhawks leading by as many as 46. Seattle U shot even better in the second half, 60.7 percent from the floor and 63 percent from deep. Tarleton closed the game on a 13-5 run in the final five minutes, but it was too little too late, ultimately falling, 91-54.
The Purple and White ended the night shooting 38.3 percent from the floor and 31.6 percent from the field. The squad hit six threes at a 31.6 percent clip. The Texans lost the turnover battle, 12-6 the first time not forcing double-digit turnovers in conference play.
Tarleton State will close out the road trip on Saturday night in Orem. The Texans will play an afternoon game against Utah Valley at 3 p.m. CT. The Wolverines are 7-1 in conference play and are tied for the lead with GCU.
