Feb. 6, 2004
Honolulu, HI - The Chaminade University men's basketball team earned a PacWest victory over Hawaii Pacific tonight, 76-72. The win improves the Swords record to 6-11, 3-4 in conference play while HPU drops to 7-13, 4-5.
Nick Frey led four players in double figures for CU with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Kashif Reyes and Roy Stigall each tallied 17 points and Donald Rogers added 12 points and 5 rebounds.
Aaron Abrams helped HPU jump out to an early 16-4 lead, nailing four 3-pointers and a lay-up in less than 5 minutes of play. Chaminade clawed back, taking their first lead of the game at 32-30 (6:39) lead before a late HPU run gave the Sea Warriors a 45-40 advantage at the half.
The lead changed hands five times in the second period before Chaminade finally sealed the victory. The Swords led 73-70 before a Dante Sykes lay-up cut the HPU defecit to 1-point with 38-seconds remaining. Hawaii-Pacific quickly fouled and the Swords failed to capitalize, missing two crucial free throws and giving HPU the ball and a chance to take the final shot of the game with 32 seconds to play. HPU held the ball and with just 14 seconds on the clock, Kashif Reyes knocked the ball out of Dante Sykes hands and right into the hands of CU teammate Donald Rogers. Rogers was quickly fouled and calmly hit 2 free throws to bump the CU lead to 3 points with 11 seconds left in regulation. Rather than allowing HPU a 3-point shot to tie the game at 75, the Swords fouled Aaron Abrams with 6 remaining on the clock. Abrams missed both free throw attempts and Bryon Sykes grabbed the rebound, was fouled, and put the game out of reach at 76-72 by converting 1 of 2 free throws with 3 seconds remaining.
The Swords head to Laie on Saturday to face first place BYU-Hawaii. Game time is set for 7:30 PM.
