Box Score ST. GEORGE, Utah – Many outdoorsmen have fishing tales of the one that got away. That could easily describe the Chaminade University men's basketball team's Pacific West Conference game Saturday night against Dixie State.
The Silverswords built a 21-point first half lead, but could not weather the Red Storm, falling 90-77 at Burns Arena, despite the return of
Lee Bailey. Chaminade scored a blistering 37 points in the game's first nine minutes, but were held to 40 for the next 31.
The 'Swords (13-11 overall, 10-6 PacWest) lost their third in a row, but still own a half-game lead over BYU-Hawai'i for the fourth spot in next month's PacWest Tournament in San Diego with four games remaining, all at home, including one against the Seasiders on Feb. 27.
The second-place Red Storm improved to 19-4 and 13-4 and swept the season series from Chaminade.
Bailey, who returned after a three-game absence, poured in a game-high 25 points, hitting seven shots from the floor and 10-of-12 from the foul line with five rebounds and five assists.
James Harper and
Kevin Hu had 14 each for the 'Swords while
Tyree Harrison notched his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 boards.
The Red Storm was led by the conference leader in double-doubles, Zach Robbins, who tallied 20 points and 15 rebounds on the evening. Kimball Payne also notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 assists.
"Well, we played a great first half, followed by a terrible second half," Silverswords head coach
Eric Bovaird said. "It was a tough road trip (finishing 1-3) and we are ready to play the final stretch at home."
The Silverswords opened the game on a blistering pace, as they hit their first six attempts of the contest. They eventually built a 37-16 lead with 10:37 left in the first half, hitting 12-of-17 from the floor by that juncture. Harper and Hu each hit a trio of 3-pointers during the 'Swords surge.
The home crowd of 3,248 would be re-energized as the Red Storm chipped away, going on a 26-10 run to close the first half while the 'Swords went cold, going only 3-of-14 the rest of the way, but still owning a 47-40 lead at the break.
Dixie State continued its run after emerging from the locker room and six minutes in, recaptured the lead at 56-55 on Robbins' 3-point play. Chaminade went ahead twice more on a jumper by
Derric Braziel and later, a
Rhys Murphy layup, putting the 'Swords ahead, 63-62, with 9:59 remaining.
Robbie Nielson would give the lead back to the Red Storm for good 12 seconds later, hitting a pair of foul shots, which started an 11-0 surge over the next three minutes, essentially putting the game out of reach. Chaminade would draw no closer than eight the rest of the way.
The 'Swords finished at 43 percent from the floor to the Red Storm's 45. Chaminade, which hit eight 3-pointers in the first half, was 1-for-8 in the second. Dixie State led the rebounding totals, 45-40, and assists, 17-12.
The Silverswords return to McCabe Gym on Thursday to face Notre Dame de Namur. A win over the Argonauts would secure a berth in the PacWest Tournament for the 'Swords.
