HONOLULU – Back on Jan. 30, the Chaminade University men's basketball team opened their truncated 2021 season with a win over the University of Hawai'i Hilo.
So it was rather fitting that they ended their season with a victory over the Vulcans as well.
All 10 Silverswords who saw court time on Saturday had at least one field goal as they jumped on nationally-ranked UH Hilo early on-route to a 75-62 upset at McCabe Gymnasium. Ending a streak of four straight defeats to Hawai'i Hilo was also a feel-good win for the Silverswords (5-7 Pacific West Conference) in a season of disappointment.
Malik Parsons (San Diego/Wentachee Valley CC/Lincoln HS) topped the 'Swords with 14 points while
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) and
Sawyer Storms (Idaho Falls, Idaho/College of Southern Idaho/Idaho Falls HS) each added 13.
One of Chaminade's two seniors playing their final game,
Bill Awet (Sydney, Australia/SIU Edwardsville/Victory Rock Prep, Fla.) posted a season-high nine points, while fellow senior
Roman Young (Wichita, Kan./Mineral Area College/Sunrise Christian Academy) had five points.
Kevin Kremer (Chico, Calif./Utah/Pleasant Valley HS) pulled down 11 rebounds to go along with seven points while Storms had nine boards, seven on the offensive glass.
Jessiya Villa (Martinsburg, W. Va./Hawai'i/Kahuku HS, Hawai'i) had eight points in the win.
Darren Williams had 21 points for the Vulcans, ranked No. 22 in the D2SIDA Media Poll and 24th in the NABC Coaches Poll. UH Hilo saw their eight-game winning streak snapped, dropping them to 10-2 on the year, and now await to see if they will be selected as a part of the six-team NCAA West Regional which will be announced late Sunday afternoon.
Like the Vulcans did on Friday, the 'Swords led wire-to-wire and started off with a bang. Awet, getting his first start this season, delivered thunderous dunk on the game's opening possession, part of an 11-0 start after the game's first six minutes. UH Hilo managed to get the deficit to 15-9 at the 8:54 mark but Chaminade closed the remainder of the half on a 24-8 surge to take a 39-17 halftime lead.
Chaminade did not allow its lead under 16 in the second half until the waning seconds of the game.
Although there was a massive disparity in free throws (UH Hilo was 20-of-25, Chaminade 3-of-3), the 'Swords made 33 field goals to Hilo's 19 and dominated on the boards, 46 to 31.
