By The Seattle Medium
The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament heats up tonight as the fifth-seeded Seattle University Redhawks (13-17, 8-8 WAC) take on the fourth-seeded Abilene Christian Wildcats (16-15, 8-8 WAC) in the quarterfinal round. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. PT at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, with the game airing on ESPN+. The winner advances to the semifinals to face either top-seeded Utah Valley or ninth-seeded Utah Tech on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
Seattle U and Abilene Christian have split their regular-season meetings, each winning on their home floor. The Redhawks dominated the first matchup, securing a 75-52 victory at home on Feb. 8 behind a dominant rebounding effort. However, Abilene Christian responded with a hard-fought 64-59 win on March 7, rallying in the second half after Seattle U led by nine at the break.
This is just the eighth all-time meeting between the programs, with Abilene Christian holding a narrow 4-3 series lead. The only prior WAC Tournament meeting came in the 2022 semifinals when the Wildcats edged the Redhawks 78-76.
Seattle U Players to Watch
Seattle U will look to All-WAC First Team forward Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (Sr.) to lead the way. The senior forward has been the team’s top performer, averaging 15.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while recording a conference-best 11 double-doubles. In the Redhawks’ win over ACU earlier this season, he finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, including the game-winning layup in the final seconds.
The Redhawks will also look to guard Maleek Arington (Jr.) to control the game on both ends of the floor. Named to the WAC All-Defensive Team, Arington has been a disruptive force all season, leading the conference with 64 steals. He also ranks second in the WAC in assists (4.5 per game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.27).
Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe (F, Sr.) – A WAC First-Team selection, Moncrieffe is the Redhawks’ go-to player, averaging 15.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. He tallied a season-high 23 points and 11 rebounds in Seattle U’s first win over ACU and leads the WAC with 11 double-doubles this season.
Paris Dawson (G, Jr.) & John Christofilis (G, Jr.) – Both guards provide consistent scoring, each averaging 10.4 points per game. Dawson had 12 points in the Redhawks’ February win over ACU.
Kobe Williamson (F, Sr.) – Seattle U’s all-time leader in blocks (167 and counting), Williamson anchors the paint while contributing 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Keys to the Game
· Dominating the Glass – For the Redhawks to advance, they will need to control the board. Seattle U won the rebounding battle decisively in its February victory, pulling down a season-high 51 boards. Controlling the paint will be crucial again.
· Defensive Intensity – The Redhawks’ defensive pressure will also play a major role, as they rank among the nation’s best in scoring defense (66.5 ppg allowed) and turnovers forced per game (14.2). Arington’s ability to disrupt ACU’s offense will be key.
· Finishing Strong – Seattle U will need to close out the game strong. The Redhawks led by nine points at halftime in their last matchup against the Wildcats but couldn’t hold on. They’ll need a complete 40-minute effort to advance.
What’s at Stake
With a chance to reach the WAC semifinals, Seattle U will look to extend its season and take another step toward its first conference tournament championship. A victory would not only avenge the 2022 tournament loss to ACU but also keep their championship hopes alive.
