HONOLULU – Three nights after surviving a scare at Hawai'i Pacific University, the Chaminade University men's basketball team returned to form by holding a track meet on Friday.
The Silverswords tallied over 50 points in both halves and buried 18 3-pointers to guide them to a 113-80 win over the Sharks at McCabe Gymnasium.
Sawyer Storms (Idaho Falls, Idaho/College of Southern Idaho/Idaho Falls HS) scored a season-high 24 points, making 5-of-8 from long range. He also pulled down a team-best seven rebounds and had five steals as Chaminade outscored HPU 33-16 in fast-break points, improving to 3-1 in the Pacific West Conference.
Jessiya Villa (Martinsburg, W. Va./Hawai'i/Kahuku HS, Hawai'i) contributed with 19 points and seven assists, followed by
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) who had 18 points.
The 'Swords' 18 triples is tied for the second-most in school history (BYU-Hawai'i in February 2016 and Alaska in November 2015) and just two behind the school record of 20 set against Northwest Indian College on Dec. 31, 2016.
In addition, the 113 points is the most in a regulation game by the 'Swords against the Sharks in the long storied rivalry which began in 1976. It is second only to the 119 they put up in a triple-overtime loss on Jan. 11, 2005.
David Rowlands, who had 25 points for HPU (0-6 PacWest) in Tuesday's game, had 18 this time.
DeRay Seamster (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) and
Kevin Kremer (Chico, Calif./Utah/Pleasant Valley HS) were Chaminade's other double-digit scorers with 11 and 12 points, respectively.
The Silverswords overwhelmed the Sharks early by jumping out to a 23-4 lead less than six minutes into the game. HPU, however, showed their mettle by whittling the lead down to seven, the last coming at the 2:43 mark on Jacob Foy's bucket which made it 45-38 although CUH led 56-46 at the break.
But the 'Swords came out gunning to start the second half, stunning the Sharks with a 25-5 run in the first five minutes. Chaminade made nine field goals during the run, seven from beyond the arc. Storms had two of those triples while Villa, Kremer, Amaral-Artharee,
Roman Young (Wichita, Kan./Mineral Area College/Sunrise Christian Academy) and
Malik Parsons (San Diego/Wenatchee Valley CC/Lincoln HS) each buried one.
HPU was never able to recover as Chaminade surpassed the 90-point barrier with over 11 minutes left and hit the century mark five minutes later.
After the 'Swords allowed the Sharks to shoot a blistering 65.5 percent in the first half, their press limited HPU to just 46.7 from the floor in the final 20 minutes. CUH also forced 23 turnovers which they recycled to 38 points.
Chaminade made 42-of-83 from the floor (52.4 percent), 22 of their baskets assisted.
The Silverswords and Sharks will meet again on Saturday at McCabe Gym, the third of four straight contests between the two teams. It will also be the final McCabe appearance by HPU in this unusual COVID-19-shortened season. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.
