Box Score HONOLULU – Not bad for the season debut of the Chaminade men's basketball team…particularly three players who were with other programs last season.
Christophe Varidel,
AJ Mathew and
James Harper combined for 55 points as the Silverswords (1-0) held off a feisty Western Oregon (0-1) squad, 82-73, at the PacWest/GNAC Challenge in front of a spirited home crowd of 220 Friday at McCabe Gym.
Varidel's debut was particularly spectacular, scoring 30 points with five 3-pointers to lead Chaminade. The senior transfer is no stranger to the 3-ball, having drilled 177 of them during his career at Division I Florida Gulf Coast, which is second all-time at the school. Varidel also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out three assists.
But Mathew, who played at D-I Toledo last year, was also most efficient, with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor, 3-of-4 from long range. And Harper (Houston Baptist) also got into the act with 11 points.
Rhys Murphy, who was injured most of last season, scored 10 points with four rebounds and a team-high five assists.
Devon Alexander led the Wolves with 18 points.
Chaminade led by as many as 11 midway through the first half, but Western Oregon chipped away and cut the deficit to six at the half.
WOU would battle its way back in the second, cutting the Swords' lead to one just two minutes in. CUH would extend the lead, but could never deliver the big blow, with their largest lead coming at seven with eight minutes remaining. The Wolves would reduce the deficit to 71-67 with 4:22 left, but Murphy hit two free throws, then brought the McCabe crowd to a deafening roar with an emphatic dunk, followed by a pair of Varidel free throws to put the game out of reach at 77-67 with 48 seconds left.
The Swords shot 44.3 percent from the floor and hit 13-of-29 3-pointers (44.8 percent). CUH also controlled the glass, 47-37.
The Challenge continues Saturday as Chaminade faces Saint Martin's at 7:30 p.m. and can be heard with live audio at goswords.com. The Saints fell to Hawai'i-Hilo, 75-65, in the first game. The Vulcans and Wolves will square off at 5 p.m.
