SEATTLE (Interstat) — In a game defined by its final, frantic seconds, the Seattle Redhawks escaped with an 83-81 victory over the Pepperdine Waves on Wednesday night at Key Arena, a result that hinged on a critical defensive stop and a pair of clutch free throws in the closing moments.

The contest, a tense, back-and-forth affair that featured 15 lead changes and neither team leading by more than seven points, was ultimately decided in the final six seconds. With Seattle clinging to an 82-81 lead after Pepperdine’s Styles Phipps missed a potential go-ahead driving layup that was blocked by Seattle’s Will Heimbrodt, the Redhawks secured the defensive rebound. Pepperdine’s Aaron Clark then fouled Seattle’s Brayden Maldonado with six ticks remaining.

Maldonado, a guard from Anchorage, Alaska, missed the first free throw but calmly sank the second to push the Seattle lead to two points. Pepperdine’s final attempt, a desperation three-pointer from Javon Cooley as time expired, missed the mark, sealing the win for the home team before a crowd of 1,079.

The dramatic finish capped a game where Pepperdine’s efficiency from the free throw line and beyond the arc nearly offset Seattle’s superior shooting from the field and significant advantage in interior defense. The Waves connected on 23 of 26 free throws and made 8 three-pointers, while the Redhawks struggled from deep, hitting only 4 of 17. However, Seattle’s 28-for-57 performance from the floor and six blocked shots, three from Heimbrodt, provided a crucial counterbalance.

Pepperdine’s offensive effort was spearheaded by a trio of double-digit scorers. Aaron Clark, a 6-foot-6 guard from Easton, Pennsylvania, led all scorers with 22 points in 37 minutes, adding four assists. Forward Danilo Dozic of Belgrade, Serbia, contributed 16 points and four assists, while Israeli forward Yonatan Levy posted 13 points, four assists and a block. Styles Phipps of Phoenix added 18 points for the Waves.

Seattle countered with a more balanced, inside-oriented attack. Jun Seok Yeo, a forward from Seoul, South Korea, led the Redhawks with 18 points. He was supported by a quartet of players scoring 13 points each: Houran Dan of China, Will Heimbrodt of San Anselmo, California, Brayden Maldonado, and John Christofilis. Point guard Maleek Arington of Auburn, Washington, orchestrated the offense with a game-high eight assists.

The game’s tempo was established early, with both teams trading baskets and the lead throughout a first half that ended with Seattle ahead 44-43. The second half followed a similar pattern, setting the stage for the final sequence. Pepperdine’s last lead came at 81-80 after a Danilo Dozic three-pointer with just over a minute to play. Seattle’s Jun Seok Yeo answered with a putback layup with 10 seconds left to reclaim the lead at 82-81, directly preceding the decisive defensive stand and free throws.

Statistically, the game was a study in contrasts. Pepperdine posted a slightly better offensive rating, scoring 106.1 points per 100 possessions to Seattle’s 104.1, but committed 13 turnovers against only seven assists. Seattle, while also turnover-prone with 14, dominated the paint and protected the rim effectively. The Waves fall to 6-18 on the season, while the Redhawks improve to 15-9.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the last minute. After Dozic’s three-pointer gave Pepperdine a one-point lead, Seattle worked the clock down. A missed shot was followed by an offensive rebound and a quick putback by Yeo to put Seattle back up by one. On the ensuing possession, Pepperdine went to Phipps, who drove aggressively but had his shot emphatically rejected by Heimbrodt. The scramble for the loose ball led to Maldonado being fouled, and his composure at the line under immense pressure provided the final margin.

Pepperdine will look to rebound at home against Pacific on Saturday. Seattle continues its conference schedule on the road at Portland, also on Saturday.