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# Redhawks Drop 54-53 Contest in Sloppy Slugfest vs. Pilots
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-redhawks-drop-close-sloppy-contest-portland-pilots/
- Published: 2026-02-08T09:03:42.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:16:02.000Z
- Author: Hayden Wysup
- Tags: Analysis, Game Day, Redhawks, Brayden Maldonado, Will Heimbrodt, Junseok Yeo, John Christofilis, Houran Dan, Austin Maurer

PORTLAND, Ore. - As the Seattle U Redhawks battled the Portland Pilots on the road on Saturday night at the Chiles Center, neither team played their best basketball with plenty of mistakes made by each team on both sides of the floor. But it was a key Redhawk mistake that ultimately cost them their eighth loss of conference play. 

The Pilots, fresh off of an upset win against Gonzaga, trailed 29-17 to Seattle U after 20 minutes in a poor performance in front of the home crowd. In the locker room, Portland head coach Shantay Legans urged his team to play with more effort. Responding favorably to the halftime pep talk, the Pilots fought back and made it a one possession game late in the second half. While the Redhawks had seen their advantage dwindle to a single point, they still led 53-52 with 35 seconds, presenting an opportunity to steal victory from the jaws of defeat.

But as has been the case too often as of late, it wasn’t meant to be in the City of Roses.

Coming out of a timeout, Seattle’s inbound pass found its way to Brayden Maldonado, where the senior guard drew a switch onto Portland’s James O’Donnell. Sizing the 6’10 forward up, he hoisted a three pointer well behind the line and missed short into the hands of a Pilot rebounder, who promptly called a timeout. 

With 20 seconds left, Portland's offensive engine Joel Foxwell brought the ball up and dished it to Ballisager Webb at the top of the arc. Garrett Nuckolls ran a pin down for Foxwell, but Seattle’s Maleek Arington smothered him the whole way. Forcing the ball out of Foxwell’s hands, Nuckolls drove in and dumped it off to Webb, who had a clean look over the shorter Arington but rolled it off the back of the rim. 

However, a mistake riddled night ended in one more as Portland’s Dante Censorii-Hercules tipped it in over the outstretched arms of Houran Dan for the game sealing putback.

“Just those hustle plays, the 50-50 balls winning plays, we just started picking it up with more energy and it came down to the last possession with a winning play,” Censorii-Hercules said after the game.

Converting on extra looks ended up being the difference late, as Portland found an 18-6 advantage on extra possessions in the second half. Usually, Seattle is the one causing havoc on defense, but on Saturday night, the Redhawks coughed up 15 turnovers, their second most in a WCC game this season. Along with the turnovers, Seattle finished the game shooting 34% from the field and 27% from three for another low scoring Redhawk loss.

Maldonado struggled finding his shot on offense, finishing with only eight points on 3-9 shooting while adding five rebounds and four assists. After Saturday’s struggles, he’s shooting 9-33 from field in his last three games. Will Heimbrodt had a rough outing as well. He finished with two points without a field goal and six turnovers.

For Maldonado and Heimbrodt, Seattle’s leading scorers on the season, frustration continues to mount. Portland mixed up their looks from zone and man, and neither playmaker could get into the lane effectively. Both hung their head after turnovers, whether it was missed passes or losing their dribble, displaying shaken body language.

With those two shut down most of the night, the Redhawks were led by Junseok Yeo and John Christofilis. Yeo finished with 14 and Christofilis scored 13\. Both found success being active off ball cutters while knocking down multiple three pointers apiece.

On the defensive end, Portland’s leading scorer in Maxwell only finished with five points on 2-11 shooting and Seattle even held him scoreless in the first half for the first time this season. Arington smothered Foxwell on most defensive possessions, being physical with him every step. 

Portland had to turn elsewhere for offense, and in the second half they did so in the paint. O’Donnell scored 11 of his 13 points in the final 20 minutes and bullied Seattle down low. All 11 of his points came in the paint and Seattle had to rotate centers Austin Maurer and Dan in and out as both picked up four fouls each in the second half. As Seattle started sending bodies down low for support, this opened up looks for O’Donnell’s teammates. His frontcourt partner Webb scored nine points in the second half, and Foxwell was able to relocate the ball with precision by recording seven of his nine assists in the final 20 minutes.

Now sitting eighth in the WCC standings (4-8) and two games behind Washington State as a once-promising season continues to unravel, Seattle will travel to Santa Clara to take on the first place Broncos on Wednesday at 7:00 PM PT.