HONOLULU – When it comes to rivalries, throw the won-loss records out the window. Especially after the favorite puts on a convincing show the previous day.
Proving that it's tough to beat the same opponent less than 24 hours later, Hawai'i Pacific University bounced back after surrendering 113 points and 18 3-pointers the previous night, handing the Chaminade University men's basketball team a stunning 83-80 loss Saturday at McCabe Gymnasium.
The Sharks, who won for the first time this season in seven tries, held the Silverswords to just 41.4 percent shooting from the floor and a season-low 10 made 3-pointers in the latest saga between the two Honolulu universities.
Jessiya Villa (Martinsburg, W. Va./Hawai'i/Kahuku HS, Hawai'i) led six 'Swords (3-2 Pacific West Conference) in double-digits with 18 points in defeat, along with five assists.
Malik Parsons (San Diego/Wenatchee Valley College/Lincoln HS) contributed with a season-best 13 points while
Roman Young (Wichita, Kan./Mineral Area College/Sunrise Christian Academy) drilled a career-high four 3-pointers for a season-best 12 points.
Kevin Kremer (Chico, Calif./Utah/Pleasant Valley HS),
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) and
DeRay Seamster (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) all had 10 points. Kremer also had nine rebounds.
Rodney Hounshell had a game-high 22 points including 13 straight during a key 16-5 run midway through the second half when it appeared Chaminade was about to pull away. Hounshell hit three triples and a tough driving layup with two defenders in his face to help give HPU a 68-63 lead with 9:30 left.
Kremer put the 'Swords ahead 80-79 with 1:44 left but Hounshell knocked down two of his own 12 seconds later to put HPU ahead for good. The Silverswords had several chances to reclaim the lead with just over a minute left but Villa couldn't get his 20th point to drop on a layup chance.
Then with the 'Swords down by three in the waning seconds, Amaral-Artharee and Young both couldn't get the potential game-tying 3 to drop, giving the Sharks the improbable win. Chaminade's loss snapped a seven-game winning streak against their crosstown rivals.
HPU shot 46.7 percent from the floor but was an outstanding 20-of-24 from the foul line. And after getting practically run out of McCabe on Friday, the Sharks slowed the 'Swords to just 17 fast-break points.
The two teams meet for a fourth consecutive time on Wednesday at The Shark Tank, which will also be the site for the final three meetings this season. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
