HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's basketball team closed the 2015-16 season in style by dispatching a feisty Point Loma squad, 92-86, Saturday at McCabe Gym.
Kuany Kuany had 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds as the Silverswords ended the year 12-15 overall and 10-10 in the Pacific West Conference.
Josh Rodriguez had a game-high 30 for Point Loma (13-14, 8-12).
Both teams favored shots from long range with Chaminade hitting 15-of-39 3-pointers while Point Loma hit 13 of 37 tries.
Despite arriving at the gym knowing they were officially eliminated from the PacWest's final tournament berth when Dominican beat Fresno Pacific just hours earlier, the 'Swords still came out with plenty of energy.
All four Chaminade seniors –
James Harper,
Kevin Hu,
Oscar Pedroso and
David Ware – along with Kuany, got the starting nod and raced out to a 12-4 lead in the opening minutes. The Sea Lions eventually rallied back and closed to 25-24. But an 18-4 run, starting with a Kuany 3-pointer and ending with one by Pedroso, built their lead back to 14 as Chaminade led, 43-31, at halftime.
The 'Swords opened up as many as an 18-point lead early in the second half as Ware hit a pair of triples along with two Hu layups. Chaminade was able to keep a double-digit lead for most of the second half but the Sea Lions made the situation too close for comfort, chopping the deficit to 86-80 with 1:24 left. But Hu's short jumper, along with two free throws each from
Kiran Shastri (11 points) and Kuany helped keep the Sea Lions at bay down the stretch.
Hu finished his career with 17 points and five boards while Ware's final game tallies were 14 points, four triples, a career-best eight rebounds and six assists. Pedroso scored nine points in his final game while Harper hit for seven.
Chaminade shot 58 percent from the field in the second half, 49 percent for the game while PLNU was held to 46.6. The 'Swords out-boarded the Sea Lions, 41-37, and had 25 assists to their 17.
Hu ended his outstanding career 11
th all-time with 1,197 points and 16
th in career rebounds with 407.
Meanwhile, Harper finished his three-year Chaminade career with 628 points and 88 3-pointers. Pedroso and Ware concluded their two-year stays as 'Swords with 374 and 258 points, respectively. Ware also totaled 99 career assists.
All four seniors were honored after the game, along with junior
Amu Rosen, who will concentrate on his studies next year.
