HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's basketball team put together a solid first half then gutted out a 70-56 win over Fresno Pacific Saturday at McCabe Gym to sweep the season series.
Austin Pope (Burbank, Calif./North Idaho College) had 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals in the win.
Grant Dressler (Las Vegas/Sacramento State) and
Justin Bridges (Atlanta/Georgia Highlands) added 12 each with
Erik Scheive (Marysville, Calif./Yuba College) getting 10.
The victory improved the Silverswords to 14-7 overall and 9-5 in the Pacific West Conference, maintaining their hold on the No. 5 spot for next month's conference tournament in Riverside, Calif.
Sam Burt came off the bench with 15 points for the undermanned Sunbirds (5-19, 3-13 PacWest) who had only seven available players due to injury and suspension.
Brett Reed (Houston/Cabrillo College) had a game-best eight rebounds for the 'Swords while also scoring six points.
Nate Pollard (Bountiful, Utah/Rice University) had all of his season-high seven points and career-best three blocks during a key stretch in the first half.
Dressler and
Braden Koelliker (Kaysville, Utah/Colorado State) hit consecutive 3-pointers to start a 10-0 to put the home team up by nine. Then with 8:43 left, Pollard then put on a display of dominance over the next 77 seconds. His baseline skyhook began a personal seven-point run, ending with his three-point play with 7:26 left in the first half. Between baskets, he picked up all three rejections including two on consecutive Adrian Antunez shots.
Chaminade built its lead to as many as 21 in the first half before settling on a 44-25 halftime lead.
The 'Swords opened the second half when Pope stole the opening inbounds pass and coasted in for a layup which helped the 'Swords take their largest lead of the game of 23 points early in the half.
But the Sunbirds battled back via a 14-2 run which chopped Chaminade's lead down to 53-42 with 11 minutes remaining. But the Silverswords managed to settle down, scoring eight straight to build the lead back to 19 in the final minutes to put the game away.
Chaminade shot 42.4 percent from the field to Fresno Pacific's 40.0 and out-rebounded them, 41-32, including 12 on the offensive glass to FPU's six which resulted in a lopsided 17-2 in second-chance points.
The sloppily-played second half by both teams saw the 'Swords commit nine of their 13 turnovers in the second half while FPU had six giveaways in the final 20 minutes.
For the fourth time in five contests, Chaminade also struggled from the free throw line, going just 5-for-13.
Eliet Donley (Yokosuka, Japan/Hayfield) was the only 'Sword with multiple tries from the foul line who made all his attempts, going 2-for-2.
The Silverswords will be on the road for their next five games including four at the always-daunting Southern California swing. The trip begins next Saturday at Concordia University Irvine which defeated the 'Swords back on the final day of November.
The 'Swords' next home game will be the home finale on Feb. 24 against Azusa Pacific.
