HONOLULU – In Chaminade University's previous two home games against foes from the always-tough Southern California region of the Pacific West Conference, the outcome came down to essentially the final possession.
After battling Biola to quadruple overtime and a two-point loss to Point Loma earlier in the month, Saturday against Concordia University Irvine proved to be no exception.
In their final McCabe Gymnasium game against a PacWest SoCal foe this season, the Silverswords rallied from an early second-half double-digit deficit but came up literally a fraction of a second short as the 'Swords were dealt a 61-59 loss to the Eagles.
Trailing by two with precious seconds winding down,
Andre Arissol (Northampton, England/Otero JC/Charnwood HS) buried a 3-pointer as time expired but the apparent game-winner was waved off because the ball was still in Arissol's hand when the buzzer sounded, albeit just barely.
The heartbreaking end dropped the Silverswords to 11-7 on the year and 9-4 in the PacWest. Concordia's win meant the Eagles and 'Swords traded places in the conference standings with CUI moving up to third while CUH fell to fourth.
Kendall Small (Lakewood, Calif./Pacific/Mayfair HS) paced Chaminade with 18 points along with seven rebounds and four assists.
Eliet Donley (Yokosuka, Japan/Hayfield, Va.) recorded his second double-double of the year with 17 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. He also came up with three steals, two of which he disrupted in a 2-on-1 and a 3-on-1 CUI fast-break situations in the second half.
Tyler Cartaino (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park), the PacWest's leading scorer, was held to 12 points, nearly nine below his season average.
Jalen Sanders led Concordia (14-6, 8-3 PacWest), the preseason conference favorites, with 14 points.
Chaminade was ice-cold to start the game, making just 4-of-22 shots after the first 12 minutes, allowing the Eagles to race out to a 21-10 lead. Donley's basket at the 8:09 mark seemed to help the 'Swords get back on track, accounting for nine of their final 17 points to help them trail by only 33-27 at halftime.
Concordia managed to grab an 11-point edge (48-37) with 13:50 left but Small had nine straight to get the home team to 50-46 some 90 seconds later. Then with CUI holding a 57-50 edge with just under 6 minutes remaining, Arissol hit a layup, followed by a corner 3 by
Kevin Kremer (Chico, Calif./Utah/Pleasant Valley HS) to bring Chaminade to within a deuce. On their next possession, Arissol's reverse layup forced a 57-all tie with 4:18 left, the 'Swords first tie since the opening tip.
But on the next possession, Darius Lee hit a 10-footer to put Concordia up. Down 61-57, Small hit another layup with 1:37 left to cut the margin to two.
With 4 seconds remaining, Kayle Knuckles missed a front end of a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity, allowing the 'Swords to have one final chance. Small sprinted down the court, drove the lane and dished to an open Arissol in the far-right corner for what was apparently the game-winner but later negated by the officials.
The 'Swords' 59 points, 33.8 shooting percentage (22-of-65) and two made 3-pointers were all season-lows. However, they managed to out-crash the Eagles on the glass, 43-36, and forced 15 turnovers.
The Silverswords will conclude a nine-game stretch played on O'ahu – eight at home – on Monday when they host Academy of Art at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
