HONOLULU – Round 1 goes to the visitors.
In a battle of nationally-ranked squads, the No. 19 Chaminade University men's basketball team was outlasted by No. 11 Point Loma, 75-71, Thursday at McCabe Gymnasium.
Tyler Cartaino hit for 20 points as the Silverswords suffered their first home loss of the season, falling to 13-3 overall and 7-3 in the Pacific West Conference. It was the first-ever game played at McCabe Gym that two nationally-ranked squads squared off since Chaminade became a member of NCAA Division II in 1986-87.
Point Loma's Daulton Hommes, who is widely considered a legitimate NBA prospect, scored 17 of his game-high 28 points in the second half to extend the Sea Lions' (15-2) win streak to 11 and keep them undefeated in the conference at 11-0.
Grant Dressler (Las Vegas/Sacramento State/Palo Verde HS) had 15 points while
Jake Hutchings (Las Vegas/Howard College/Centennial HS) added 11, making all but one of his five field goal attempts.
Nicholas Anderson (Anaheim, Calif./Fullerton College/Canyon HS) dropped eight points and three assists, tying him for the team-high with Dressler.
Although Dressler was the 'Swords' second-leading scorer on the night, the senior was just 5 of 23 from the floor and a season-low 21.7 percent. He also made just two of his 12 shots from beyond the arc.
Erik Scheive (Marysville, Calif./Yuba College/Marysville HS) was saddled with foul trouble throughout the game. The team's second-leading scorer was held to seven points, playing just five first-half minutes and 20 total, although he pulled down seven rebounds as did Dressler.
Despite Scheive getting two quick fouls barely over three minutes in, the 'Swords led much of the first half. Anderson's layup with 6:29 left in the half gave them their largest lead of 30-21 but PLNU roared back with a 15-2 run to put them ahead 36-32 four minutes later. Dressler's triple with a minute left put Chaminade up 39-38 at the break.
However Hommes took over out the gate. The 6-8 forward greeted the second half with eight straight points including a pair of 3s to put Point Loma ahead to stay. PLNU led by as many as 11 but the 'Swords managed to chop the deficit to just five with 3:02 remaining on Cartaino's bucket.
But Tanner Nelson's corner 3 on Point Loma's next possession proved to be the biggest shot of the game which put the visitors up 71-63.
Roman Young (Wichita, Kan./Mineral Area College/Sunrise Christian Academy) knocked down a triple with 24 seconds left to pull the 'Swords within 75-71 but the got no closer.
Point Loma's 59 percent second-half shooting percentage was a major factor in the outcome while Chaminade made just 42 percent. PLNU shot 54.2 percent in the game while CUH was held to 40.6. The 'Swords were also just 9 of 23 from long distance while Hommes made four of the Sea Lions' eight triples.
The Silverswords will look to rebound Saturday against Concordia Irvine (13-6, 9-1 PacWest). Like Point Loma, the Eagles come to McCabe Gym on a roll, having won 12 of their last 15. CUI has also won four of the five games in the series.
