HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's basketball team did not require a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in their latest contest.
The Silverswords, whose last two home games were won on
Kiran Shastri 3-pointers in the final seconds, built a lead early then hung on in the end to pull out a 76-75 win over Dominican University of California Saturday at McCabe Gym.
Shastri scored 23 points and pulled down season-tying six rebounds to lead the 'Swords who improved to 6-5 overall and 3-2 in the Pacific West Conference.
Rohndell Goodwin added 18 while
Austin Pope recorded his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 boards.
Sam Daly tied his career-high with nine assists.
Nate Pollard was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field for a season-high eight points.
Jeremiah Gray had 23 points for the Penguins (3-7, 2-2 PacWest).
Dominican held the lead up until midway through the first half as a 9-0 run helped erase a six-point deficit with Goodwin scoring seven points during the stretch. His triple at the 11:08 mark of the half put the 'Swords up 15-14, a lead they would not relinquish.
Chaminade led by as many as 12 and was up by eight after
Justin Bridges' reverse layup with 8:26 to go. Dominican rallied, cutting the deficit 72-70 on Henry Uwadiae's shot with 1:41 left. Shastri made all four free throws to help keep the Penguins at bay but Gary's corner 3 with seven seconds left made it a one-point game. Goodwin missed the front end of the one-and-one with 2.9 seconds left then Gray heaved a prayer from three-quarter court which bounced off the front of the iron which gave the 'Swords their second consecutive one-point win and their third straight at home.
The final numbers were indicative of the one-point difference. Chaminade held close advantages in field goals (31-29), assists (12-11) and steals (7-2) while Dominican led in 3-pointers (7-6), free throws (10-8), rebounds (39-35) and blocks (4-2).
It will be the only meeting between the teams this season, barring a meeting in Irvine, California next March in the PacWest Tournament. Both teams eliminated each other from qualifying for the tournament the last two year. The 'Swords defeated the Penguins and prevented them from reaching the tournament two years ago while last year DUC earned the sixth and final spot over CUH in a tie-breaker.
The Silverswords travel to the North Shore to face BYU-Hawai'i in Laie on Monday, which will mark their final appearance at the Cannon Activities Center.
