BELMONT, Calif. – When the Chaminade University men's basketball team last faced Notre Dame de Namur last Dec. 2 at McCabe Gym, they needed a last second 3-pointer from
Kiran Shastri to pull out a one-point win.
In the rematch, however, no buzzer-beating shot was required.
The Silverswords turned a close game at the half into a runaway, outscoring the Argonauts by 24 points in the final 20 minutes for a 99-73 win Thursday at Walter Gleason Gym.
Rohndell Goodwin tallied his 11
th 20-point game this season – and his third straight – with 24 points along with six rebounds in the win.
Austin Pope collected his second consecutive double-double by setting season-highs of 18 points and 16 rebounds while Shastri added 17 points and
Kuany Kuany 16.
The Silverswords improved to 11-6 overall and 7-3 in the Pacific West Conference.
Sam Daly pitched in the Chaminade cause with eight points and six assists, hitting all four field goal tries. All 10 Silverswords who made the road trip scored at least one field goal as they outscored NDNU, 52-28, in the second half.
The Argos (3-10, 1-6) were led by Korey Serna's 14 points.
Chaminade's first three baskets were 3-pointers with two from Goodwin and the other from Kuany to help give the visitors an early lead. Shastri's two triples helped give Chaminade a seven-point cushion midway through the first half as they twice built the lead to 10 behind a Goodwin 3-pointer and Daly's layup.
But NDNU slowly chipped away and eventually took a 46-43 lead on Brian Ying's 3-ball with 2:16 left in the half. Shastri hit a 3 then a layup from Pope and a tip-in from
Tyler Cartaino helped put Chaminade up 47-45 at the break.
The Argos briefly retook the lead at 53-52 early in the second before the Silverswords took it right back. Then with the 'Swords holding on to a 60-57 lead with 12:55 left, they made their move.
Justin Bridges made a free throw then Kuany scored nine straight during the game's pivotal 14-0 run over the next three minutes to remove any drama. NDNU would get no closer to 13 the rest of the way.
Chaminade made 54.4 percent of its shots (37 of 68) and 12 of 27 from 3-point range. The 'Swords also pounded the glass, 45-27, and had 16 assists while committing 10 turnovers.
The Silverswords will look to complete an unblemished road trip Saturday at Fresno Pacific.
