LAS VEGAS — In a thrilling quarterfinal matchup of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday night, Seattle University emerged victorious against Abilene Christian with a 69-63 win. Leading the charge for Seattle was Kobe Williamson, who notched 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, playing a pivotal role in the Redhawks’ triumph. As the fifth seed with a 14-17 record, Seattle University will now face the No. 1 seed, Utah Valley, in a much-anticipated semifinal clash on Friday.
Supporting Williamson’s standout performance was Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, who contributed significantly with 18 points, nine rebounds, and three crucial blocks. Brayden Maldonado also made a mark, sinking three from beyond the arc and adding 16 points to the scoreboard.
Abilene Christian, the fourth seed with a balanced 16-16 standing, put up a strong fight. Quion Williams was a standout for the Wildcats, scoring 24 points and securing six rebounds. Additional contributions came from Bradyn Hubbard, who added 10 points, and Dontrez Williams with eight points.
Seattle University took a 30-25 lead into halftime, thanks in part to Moncrieffe’s 13 first-half points. The Redhawks managed to solidify their advantage early in the second half, with Moncrieffe’s layup at the 13:45 mark giving them a permanent lead at 37-35.
