LAHAINA, Maui, Hawai'i – Over the years in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational, Chaminade University has knocked off the likes of Division I heavyweights Stanford, Providence, Oklahoma and Texas.
Playing their highest-ranked opponent in over a decade, the Silverswords could not overcome the sheer size and athleticism of No. 5 Kansas, falling 123-72 in their Maui Jim Maui Invitational opener Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center.
Kiran Shastri led the Silverswords (0-3) with 17 points off the bench with
Rohndell Goodwin adding 15.
The Jayhawks (2-1) had seven players in double-digits, led by Wayne Seldon Jr.'s 18 points.
Shastri nailed five 3-pointers, closing to within five of the program's all-time career record of 174, set by George Gilmore, who played at Chaminade from 1990-92.
Kuany Kuany came close to his third double-double in as many games with nine points and nine rebounds while
Kevin Hu had seven points.
David Ware and
Sam Daly added six points each while Ware had a team-high five assists.
Hu's total tied him for 14
th on the program's all-time scoring list with Francis Fletcher (929).
The 'Swords scored on the game's first possession on Goodwin's 3-pointer from the top of the key but three turnovers over the next two minutes resulted in a KU 9-3 lead.
However, Shastri ignited a Chaminade run with eight points on a pair of free throws and two 3-balls with the latter forcing the Jayhawks to call a timeout with 13:43 left in the half at 14-13. But an 18-2 KU run during a six-minute span extended its lead to 36-18 as the Silverswords went ice-cold from the floor, missing eight shots.
The Jayhawks led 53-33 at the half with the 'Swords making only 9-of-32 from the floor while KU was 20-of-37. Chaminade also was only 4-for-18 from 3-point range while the Jayhawks were 7-of-16.
The 'Swords were more proficient to start the second half, hitting six buckets on nine attempts including four layups to close to 64-45. But KU continued to make an assortment of shots from both close range and long distance to pull away down the stretch.
KU shot over 64 percent from the floor, hitting 47 shots, 32 assisted, while CUH was just below 35 percent (24-of-69). The 'Swords were out-rebounded 51-26 and hit only eight from downtown while the Jayhawks was 15-of-29. Both teams committed 14 turnovers.
The 'Swords return to action Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. when they face UNLV, which lost to UCLA 77-75 in Monday's final contest. The game will be televised on nationally on ESPN2.
