> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Redhawks Upset Huskies 70-66, Win Second Straight ‘Battle for Seattle’
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-redhawks-upset-washington-huskies-battle-for-seattle/
- Published: 2025-12-20T08:20:18.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:16:43.000Z
- Author: Hayden Wysup
- Tags: Game Day, Analysis, Brayden Maldonado, Will Heimbrodt, Austin Maurer, Redhawks

SEATTLE, Wash. - For the second time in a week, the Seattle Redhawks grinded out a game that came down to the wire, this time as the underdog in a 70-66 win over the Washington Huskies in the latest Battle for Seattle at Climate Pledge Arena.

For Seattle to secure their second consecutive win over Washington, amid a game that saw 20 lead changes during a back-and-forth affair, Seattle came out on top by playing better down the stretch in the closing minutes.

At the break, Washington led 29-26 after a sluggish first half from both offenses. The Redhawks top two leading scorers on the season, Brayden Maldonado and Will Heimbrodt, combined to shoot 1-14 from the field, while Huskies star freshman Hannes Steinbach had five points on 2-7 shooting with three turnovers.

With the Huskies half-court offense struggling, they created advantages in creating offense off turnovers and in the fastbreak. Washington created 19 points off turnovers 17 points off fast breaks on the night and it was Desmond Claude that became a beneficiary from pushing the pace. The senior guard finished with 24 points and four assists on 9-14 shooting. 

Surprisingly, the Redhawks, who have found success all season with their efficient shooting from three point range and ranked first in the WCC for three-point percentage going into Friday night, couldn’t find the bottom of the net on a neutral court. Clanking bricks left and right in the first half, Seattle shot 3-17 from three, shifting their focus to driving to the basket after halftime and taking only four three pointers in the final 20 minutes.

Benefiting from that changed approach, Maldonado started to find his rhythm, taking Huskies off the dribble and regularly getting to the rim throughout the half, finishing with 11 points. The pressure on the rim also allowed for easier looks for sophomore Austin Maurer. Maurer, who saw his second start of the season, finished the game with a career-high 19 points, five rebounds, and three blocks, coming up big in crunch time as well.

Attacking the basket served as the difference in the second half, and despite Washington’s Steinbach playing better in the last 20 minutes, the Redhawks still won the scoring battle in the paint. As a result of taking the ball to the rack, they were rewarded with 24 free throw attempts after only going to the line three times in the first half.

“We weren't dictating on offense to start the game,” coach Chris Victor said afterward. “They were. Their defense, their physicality was dictating our shots for us, and we were settling a lot. So to flip, that was big in the second half for us.”

It was these second half adjustments that gave the edge to Victor’s squad in the second half, as the Redhawks shot 50% from the field and knocked down most of their shots from the charity stripe. On the flip side, the Huskies shot 36% from the field and took only 16 free throws, which proved to be a huge discrepancy in a close game.

After the Redhawks’ second signature win of the non-conference schedule, they sit at 10-2 as they continue their best start in more than 50 years and will travel to San Antonio to take on the UTSA Roadrunners on Monday before hosting their first game of WCC play against San Francisco on Sunday.