College Article Feature: Abmas’ career night leads Stars past Warriors 131-119 in season finale

Written by Zachary Halliday | Brigham Young University

The Salt Lake City Stars defeated the Santa Cruz Warriors 131-119 Friday at the Maverik Center to close the season.

Despite midseason struggles and missing the playoffs, the Stars closed a turbulent year with a high-paced, efficient performance, holding off a second-half comeback attempt. Returning guard Max Abmas posted a career-high 40 points for Salt Lake City and tied his career-high with 10 3-pointers.

“Max is just awesome,” head coach Rick Higgins said. "He’s got far more toughness than people know. He finds a way to get hot.”

Abmas averaged more than 16 points in 50 games this season and was key in several wins. He also won the 2025 NBA G League Winter Showcase Championship MVP after scoring 29 points off the bench.

Guard Dereon Seabron scored 28 points on 63% shooting, while forward Matthew Cleveland finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. Newcomer Trey Townsend scored 16 points, and center Steven Crowl recorded a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Abmas set the tone early, hitting three 3-pointers and a midrange jumper to give the Stars an 11-4 lead. Salt Lake City made four of its first five attempts from beyond the arc.

An emphatic one-handed dunk by Matthew Murrell capped a 14-3 run and extended the lead to 36-20 late in the first quarter. Salt Lake City entered the second quarter ahead 44-29, with Abmas scoring 13 points and Cleveland adding 10.

The Stars continued to build on that momentum. Abmas drilled back-to-back 3-pointers, while the Warriors’ offense struggled with missed passes and limited penetration into the paint. Salt Lake City capitalized in transition.

Townsend closed the half with a bang, slamming home a dunk that energized the home crowd. The Stars entered halftime with an 80-61 lead.

Abmas led all scorers with 25 points and seven 3-pointers at the break, helping the Stars shoot 64% from the field and 50% from 3-point range.

The Stars pushed their lead to 23 in the third quarter behind multiple 3-pointers, a Euro- step layup by Cleveland and an alley-oop from Max Klesmit to Crowl with just over six minutes left in the quarter.

Santa Cruz responded with a 15-0 scoring run to cut the deficit to seven. The Warriors hit three straight 3-pointers, forced a shot-clock violation and grabbed two steals to shift momentum in their favor entering the fourth.

“We needed to finish the game the right way,” Higgins said of the third quarter. “Moving on and getting to the next play. As soon as we could play it forward, the game was right there in front of us.”

The Warriors cut the lead to five with strong passing and good looks in the paint, but a 7-0 run helped Salt Lake City regain control.

Abmas sealed the win late, hitting his tenth 3-pointer with 17 seconds remaining to match his career-high. His teammates burst into cheers.

"The team rallied around the fact that there was something good going and they wanted more and more of it,” Higgins said. “I think that showed the way they celebrated the last one he hit.”

Teammates even covered Abmas in towels during his on-court postgame interview in a show of excitement.

Led by Abmas, Seabron and Cleveland, the Stars shot 56% from the field and made 15 3-pointers. The Warriors outrebounded and outassisted Salt Lake City, but the Stars’ 17 fast-break points and 13 forced turnovers proved decisive.

Guard Taevion Kinsey led the Warriors with 22 points, and seven of nine players scored in double figures.

Despite missing the postseason, Stars general manager Katie Benzan was proud of the season as a whole.

“It has been an opportunity for growth across the board,” Benzan said. “We’ve been through the highs and lows, battling through adversity. I am so proud of all our guys throughout this entire year.”

The Stars concluded the season 14-22, while the Warriors fell to 14-20.