HONOLULU – Four days after the start of New Year, the Chaminade University men's basketball team had their own fireworks show Tuesday with a thrilling 78-77 overtime win over Holy Names University at McCabe Gymnasium.
Zach McIntire (Delaware, Ohio/Mercyhurst University/Delaware Hayes HS) hit a 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds left while
Paris Taylor (Bolivar, Tenn./University of Wisconsin Green Bay/Central HS) made a game-clinching block at the buzzer to preserve the victory in the Silverswords' first game of the 2022 calendar year.
Raazhel Watkins (Concord, Calif./Sacramento State/College Park HS) led Chaminade with a season-high 21 points, hitting 6-of-12 shots from the floor including five triples with just one miss.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) added 16 points while
Kevin Kremer (Chico, Calif./University of Utah/Pleasant Valley HS) added nine points and a team-best nine rebounds for the 'Swords.
The 'Swords improved to 5-7 overall and 3-3 in the Pacific West Conference, avenging an 18-point defeat to the Hawks on Dec. 16 in Oakland.
Edward Gray, who had the game-winning shot at Hawai'i Pacific University on Sunday, had 21 to pace Holy Names, which fell to 4-9 and 2-3 on the year.
The Silverswords were ahead in the scoreboard for much of the game and was up by as many as 45-35 midway through the second half. HNU grinded away the lead and finally caught CUH with two free throws with 1:44 remaining in regulation.
With less than a minute remaining, Austin Carter hit a layup which put the Hawks up, 66-64, their first lead since late in the first half. McIntire responded by drilling his first 3-pointer of the game to put Chaminade up, 67-66, on the ensuing possession. Damiri Lindo's layup with 4 seconds left which send the game into overtime at 70-all.
With Holy Names leading 77-75 with 14 seconds left, the 'Swords were gifted a missed front end of a 1-and-1 free throw trip. With time winding down,
Patrick Renane (Havdrup, Denmark/Dublin, Calif., HS) found McIntire near the top of the key who promptly drilled his second triple of the game with 4.1 seconds left to put Chaminade up by a point.
After an HNU timeout, Lindo pulled up for a potential game-winning 27-footer but Taylor swatted the shot as the buzzer went off to ensure the Silverswords' victory.
Chaminade made 24 of its 52 shots for a 46.2 percentage. The 'Swords, who had struggled from long distance all season, not only made a season-high 12 but were efficient from beyond the arc with 19 total tries for a 63.2 percent clip. They pulled down 35 rebounds and had 14 assists while
Joseph Smoyer (Portland, Ore./Columbia University/Franklin HS) had three of the team's four blocked shots.
HNU made 30 of its 63 field goals but were held to just 25 percent (5-of-20) from 3-point range. They also had 30 boards and 11 assists. Chaminade outscored them, 32-19, from the bench.
The Silverswords, who saw Thursday's game against Fresno Pacific postponed due to health and safety protocols, will face Biola on Saturday at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
