HONOLULU – The 20th-ranked Chaminade University men's basketball team continued their torrid start to the season Monday, picking up an 87-81 win over Dallas Baptist University in the Hoops in Hawai'i D2 Power Invitational semifinal at the Hawai'i Convention Center.
Tyler Cartaino (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park) had a career-high 23 points while tying his career-best with four assists in the win. The redshirt junior forward also pulled down seven rebounds and hit 8 of 10 shots from the floor.
The Silverswords survived two punches from the Patriots – one at the start of the game and another toward the end – to remain unbeaten at 9-0 on the year. It's their best start since the 1978-79 season when they began 11-0.
Earlier in the day,
Erik Scheive (Marysville, Calif./Yuba College/Marysville HS) and
Grant Dressler (Las Vegas/Sacramento State/Palo Verde HS) were named the Pacific West Conference Player and Defender of the Week, respectively. Both seniors justified those selections by scoring 17 points each with Scheive making 8-of-12 field goals, four boards and two blocks while Dressler had five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Nicholas Anderson (Anaheim, Calif./Fullerton College/Canyon HS) had nine points and six assists but foul trouble limited his minutes to just 19. However
Roman Young (Wichita, Kan./Mineral Area College/Sunrise Christian Academy) provided a major pick up behind Anderson, setting career-highs with eight points and four assists.
Andre Arissol (Northampton, England/Otero JC/Charnwood HS) added seven points followed by
Jake Hutchings (Las Vegas/Howard College/Centennial HS) had six and six boards.
Dallas Baptist (8-4) was led by Carter Brown with 21 points and nine assists.
The Patriots were sizzling early, hitting their first 10 shots of the game to grab a 23-12 lead six minutes in. But Chaminade weathered the storm with Dressler catching fire himself, burying two 3-pointers to draw the 'Swords to 23-20.
Young played a key role after Anderson picked up his second foul midway through the first half. The junior buried a corner 3 and hit a jumper from the block to twice bring Chaminade to within a point.
Chaminade eventually caught DBU at 33 on Scheive's foul-line jumper with 4:39 left then took their first lead at 40-38 on Cartaino's short jumper on the left block two minutes later. In all, the 'Swords outscored the Patriots 7-0 to close the half to take a 44-38 halftime lead.
The Silversword built on their lead and led by as many as 15 (73-59) on Scheive's basket with 5:41 remaining. The Patriots' full-court press enabled them to get to within six twice in the final minute but it was as close as they got.
Dallas Baptist shot a healthy 54.2 percent (32 of 59) from the floor in the game. After their 10-for-10 start, the Patriots were held to 44.9 percent field goal shooting the rest of the way including 45.7 percent in the second half.
Chaminade shot 51.6 (33 of 64) from the field and out-rebounded Dallas Baptist, 33-31. They dished out more assists (20-16) and forced 15 DBU giveaways while turning it over themselves 14 times. They also made 13 of their 17 shots from the free throw line to DBU's 10 of 18.
The Silverswords will face seventh-ranked UC San Diego on Tuesday for the Power Invitational championship after the Tritons beat Western Oregon in the late semifinal game. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.
