SEATTLE, Wash. – Darrion Trammell erupted for 25 points and 13 assists as the Seattle U Redhawks beat the Portland Pilots 84-68 on Wednesday night at the Redhawk Center. Senior guard Ahmed Ali led the Pilots with 19 points as Portland will now prepare for West Coast Conference play.

The Pilots (6-3) will next take the court on Thursday, Jan. 7 at the Chiles Center against Loyola Marymount.

Ali added four assists, three rebounds and two steals, while junior guard Latrell Jones finished with 17 points and four rebounds for the Pilots. Isiah Dasher was also in double figures with 12 points and five rebounds.

Riley Grigsby added a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Redhawks (6-5), who swept both meetings with the Pilots this season.

Seattle U was in control from the get-go on Wednesday. The Redhawks used a 7-0 run to grab the early lead and went up by as much as 12 points late in the first period. Jones limited the damage with nine first-half points, including a three-pointer in the final minute to make it a 41-32 Seattle U edge at the break.

Grigsby hit a pair of threes to open the second half and give the Redhawks a 47-34 lead, but the Pilots answered with a 10-0 run. Eddie Davis went coast-to-coast to begin the run and Dasher added a three and runner in the lane. Ali also began to heat up with a driving lay-in. He then added a step-back three minutes later to make it a 50-47 deficit.

Trammell then made big plays to create separation for the Redhawks. He set up a pair baskets before converting a layup and three-pointer to push the margin back to 62-49. Trammell and Seattle U answered every Pilot threat down the stretch, leading by as much as 17 in the closing minutes.

The Redhawks outrebounded Portland 47-34 and gained a 46-24 edge in points in the paint. Seattle U shot 49 percent from the field and limited the Pilots to just 34 percent overall.

The Pilots were originally scheduled to open WCC play at Pacific on Jan. 2, but that game was postponed due to COVID-related issues. Complete television coverage and conference game times will be finalized and announced soon.