HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's basketball team was hoping to get a signature win over one of the Pacific West Conference leaders Saturday. However, the Silverswords were turned back in a 77-68 defeat to Biola at McCabe Gymnasium.
After being held without a point on Thursday,
Sawyer Storms (Idaho Falls, Idaho/College of Southern Idaho/Idaho Falls HS) came off the bench and hit five 3-pointers for a season-high 19 points in the loss.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) and
Tredyn Christensen (Eagle Mountain, Utah/Snow College/Westlake HS) each had 12, a season-high for the latter on 6 of 7 shooting, as Chaminade fell to 5-8 overall and 3-4 in the PacWest.
The 'Swords will certainly not miss seeing any more of Biola guard Chris Rossow, who made what was likely his final appearance at McCabe Gym. The senior, who two years ago sank a game-tying 20-foot desperation runner at the buzzer of the second overtime in what later became a four-OT home loss for CUH, hit his first seven 3-point tries for a career-high 33 points. This followed his 32-point outburst Thursday at Hawai'i Pacific University.
The Eagles improved to 11-2 overall and at 5-1 in the PacWest, moved into a first-place tie atop the conference standings with Academy of Art.
Zach McIntire (Delaware, Ohio/Mercyhurst University/Delaware Hayes HS) had eight points followed by six each from
Paris Taylor (Bolivar, Tenn./University of Wisconsin Green Bay/Central HS) and
Raazhel Watkins (Concord, Calif./Sacramento State/College Park HS).
Kevin Kremer (Chico, Calif./University of Utah/Pleasant Valley HS) pulled down a team-high seven boards for the 'Swords with Watkins dropping four dimes.
After Storms' first triple put Chaminade up 11-10 early in the contest, Biola went on a 13-0 run to take the lead for good. The Eagles' advantage swelled to as many as 28-15 at the 7:45 mark of the first half although the 'Swords managed to trim the deficit to 32-23 at halftime.
Storms' put-back dunk early in the second half would chop Biola's lead to 39-36 but Rossow countered with triples in consecutive possession to push its lead back to nine. The Eagles built their advantage to 67-54 with four minutes left but the 'Swords had one more push with baskets from Christensen,
Kobe Young (Honolulu/Kamehameha-Kapalama) and Amaral-Artharee.
With 30 seconds remaining, Storms buried his final triple to get Chaminade to within 73-68 and on Biola's ensuing possession, Young deflected a transition pass near midcourt to get possession back to the home team. But the 'Swords couldn't get the 3 to drop which would have brought them to within a deuce. The Eagles made all four of their free throws to end the game.
Chaminade hit 42 percent of its shots, making 29-of-69, while Biola was 30 of 65 for 46.2 percent. The Eagles hit 11 triples with 15 assists and 39 boards while the 'Swords made seven from long range, had nine assists and 38 rebounds.
The Silverswords will next be on the floor on Saturday, Jan. 15 against Dominican University of California at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
