LAS VEGAS – The Chaminade University men's basketball team concluded the unique 2021 Maui Jim Maui Invitational with an 84-51 loss Wednesday to Butler in the seventh-place game at the Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Although the Silverswords (2-3) did not leave Las Vegas with a jackpot victory, they did depart with a wealth of experience against three high-level Division I squads like they always do when the Maui Jim Maui Invitational is held in its regular home at the Lahaina Civic Center on Maui.
Kevin Kremer (Chico, Calif./University of Utah/Pleasant Valley HS) had a team-high 12 points – 11 coming during a three-minute stretch in the second half which the 'Swords nearly got back to within single digits – while
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) and
Tredyn Christensen (Eagle Mountain, Utah/Snow College/Westlake HS) had 10 each.
Zach McIntire (Delaware, Ohio/Mercyhurst University/Delaware Hayes) pulled down a team-high nine rebounds for Chaminade, who actually out-rebounded Butler, 37-to-31, and crushed them on the offensive glass, 22-to-3.
Jayden Taylor led the Bulldogs (4-3) with 21 points.
The Bulldogs came out with a full head of steam, making their first six shots and nine of their first 11 to take a 21-5 lead seven minutes into the game.
However the 'Swords rallied back with the help of a 9-0 run led by Christensen who accounted for four of them with a layup and a reverse jam on a fast-break, cutting the deficit to 24-16 with 7:52 left in the half. Butler scored five of the half's final six points to take a 45-29 halftime lead.
Butler scored six points to begin the second half, giving them a 51-29 advantage. Chaminade had one more push with Kremer getting his 11 points during a 14-4 run which got the 'Swords to within 55-43 with 12:48 left.
But that would be as close as they got as the Bulldogs pulled away in the final 10 minutes.
Chaminade shot 30.3 percent from the floor while Butler made 29 of its 46 shots for a 63 percent clip. They also made half of their 18 triples, were 17-of-19 from the free throw line and dished out 19 assists to the 'Swords' seven.
Sawyer Storms (Idaho Falls, Idaho/College of Southern Idaho/Idaho Falls HS) had three of Chaminade's dimes.
The Silverswords return to Division II action at home in their final non-conference game of the season. However the competition doesn't get any easier with Lubbock Christian, the No. 1-ranked team in Division II, visiting McCabe Gymnasium. LCU rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to down 19th-ranked Hawai'i Hilo on Wednesday, 72-66, at Hawai'i Pacific University's Shark Tank.
Tipoff for Saturday's matchup is set for 3 p.m.
