IRVINE, Calif. – The Chaminade University men's basketball team played perhaps one of their best second halves of basketball Saturday at Concordia Irvine.
However they would like to have the last two minutes back.
The Silverswords squandered a late eight-point lead as they were dealt a painful 72-70 loss to the Eagles at CU Arena. It was the second time this season the two teams played a game decided on the final play.
Concordia's Darius Lee, who had the go-ahead basket in the teams' first meeting on Jan. 25 won by CUI, 61-59, at McCabe Gymnasium, played the role of Silversword-antagonist again, this time, burying the game-winning 10-foot fade-away jumper with 12 seconds left.
Chaminade had led 70-62 with 1:55 remaining but were out-scored 10-0 the rest of the way. They also committed six turnovers during those fateful two minutes including two costly miscues; one that would have given them a two-possession lead with 31 seconds left and the other coming with 19 seconds left on an inbounds pass after Concordia had drawn to within a point.
The 'Swords fell to 15-9 overall, 13-6 in the Pacific West Conference and are 1-6 in games decided by six points or less. Despite the loss, they still clinched a spot in the upcoming PacWest Tournament in Azusa, Calif., earlier in the day when Academy of Art defeated Hawai'i Hilo.
Tyler Cartaino (Newbury Park, Calif./Newbury Park), who played just five minutes in the second half after suffering an injury, and
Kendall Small (Lakewood, Calif./Pacific/Mayfair HS) each had 15 points for the 'Swords while the latter also had six rebounds and five assists.
Andre Arissol (Northampton, England/Otero JC/Charnwood HS) dropped in 14 points on three 3-pointers.
Eliet Donley (Yokosuka, Japan/Hayfield, Va., HS) added 13 points and eight boards while
Roman Young (Wichita, Kan./Mineral Area College/Sunrise Christian Academy) had nine points and three assists while running the offense efficiently in the second half when Small was in foul trouble.
Kevin Kremer (Chico, Calif./Utah/Pleasant Valley HS) pulled down eight rebounds off the bench.
Lee had 19 points for the Eagles who swept the regular season series. They have won the last four meetings and seven of the last eight. Concordia improved to 19-7 overall and 13-4 in the PacWest. The Eagles remained in third place of the conference and own a two-game lead over the Silverswords, who are sitting in fourth.
In the first half, however, it was Concordia which established early control, taking as many as a 15-point lead (32-17) with 8:39 left in the first half. Young's 3-pointer started a 12-0 run which put Chaminade right back into the mix. The Eagles maintained their lead but with 20 seconds left, Arissol drilled a corner triple to give the 'Swords the 39-31 lead at halftime, their first since the game was just 90 second old.
Despite the absence of Cartaino, the PacWest's leading scorer, for the last 12 minutes of the game, Chaminade managed to match the hosts score-for-score. Donley's driving layup put the 'Swords up 65-55 with 5:23 left. A little over four minutes later, everything unraveled.
Leading 70-64 with 1:09 left, the 'Swords missed two free throws which led to a 3-pointer by Kyle Gray 13 seconds later.
Chaminade proceeded to give the ball back on the next inbounds but CUI missed the layup, giving the ball back to the 'Swords.
Then came the wackiness. Up 70-67, the 'Swords turned it over again, only to have the Eagles give it right back when Jamel White slipped and lost the ball. It was retrieved by Small who found Arissol all by himself for a potential breakaway layup which would've put Chaminade up by two possessions. Instead the pass was mishandled, leading to a layup from White to bring the Eagles to within a point at 70-69.
A traveling violation on the subsequent CUH inbounds pass gave Concordia the possession and Lee's game-winner.
When the dust cleared, the 'Swords shot 44.6 percent from the floor while holding the Eagles to 39.0. Rebounding was even at 39 but Concordia had eight blocks. Chaminade also had 20 turnovers although CUI had 17 itself.
The Silverswords have one more game on the current five-game road trip. They will make the trek from southern California to the Central Valley where they close out the trip Monday at Fresno Pacific.
