HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's basketball team on Friday returned to the hardwood after a nearly two-week layoff.
Unfortunately for the Silverswords, their opponent had the benefit of playing two consecutive weekends.
The rust was evident as Chaminade ran into a buzz saw in Cal State San Bernardino, the seventh-ranked team in Division II, dropping a 106-78 decision in the first day of the Hoops in Hawai'i Thanksgiving Classic presented by Outrigger Hotels Hawai'i at the Hawai'i Pacific University Shark Tank.
For the third straight game,
Ross Reeves (Orem, Utah/Snow College/Orem HS) led Chaminade (1-2) in the scoring ledger with 22 points.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) added 12 points while
Dorian Harris (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos College/Cerritos HS) added a season-high 10.
The Coyotes, who eclipsed their previous high of 96 against La Sierra on Nov. 18, scored 60 first-half points – just 20 shy of their season average – as they improved to 5-0 on the season. Brandon Knapper led all scorers with 28 points, hitting 10 field goals including eight 3-pointers – several of which extended out to 28 feet – before fouling out midway through the second half.
The 106 points is the most the 'Swords have allowed to a Division II opponent in a regulation game since California Baptist had the same total on Jan. 7, 2016.
Jalen Brattain (Shallowater, Texas/Lubbock Christian Univ./Shallowater HS) had team-highs of 11 rebounds and three assists for Chaminade in addition to eight points.
Raazhel Watkins (Concord, Calif./Sacramento State/College Park HS) also had eight points with five boards.
Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./Gannon University/West Linn HS), who missed the PacWest/GNAC Challenge, returned and also had eight points.
The Coyotes flexed their nationally-ranked muscle early, taking a 26-9 lead seven minutes into the game, hitting 11 of their first 15 shots including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Chaminade was just 3-for-10 and 1-for-3 from long range and were out-rebounded 12-1 during the same stretch.
Rhythm continued to evade the 'Swords for the remainder of the half as CSUSB continued to shoot lights out, making eight of their next 11 shots to increase its lead to 43-23, its largest of the half. The only positive for the Silverswords were they drew 15 first half fouls, making 18 trips to the free throw line.
However, the Yotes continued its torrid shooting in the second half, leading by as many as 33 midway through.
Chaminade shot at a 32.4 percent clip, making 23 of its 71 tries and were 10-of-25 from 3-point land while CSUSB finished at 55.7 percent (44-of-79) and were 11-of-23 from long range. The 'Swords were hammered on the boards, 52-to-32, with the Yotes owning the lane with a 66-to-20 scoring edge inside the paint. Cal State San Bernardino also galloped up and down the floor with 22 fastbreak points to Chaminade's 12.
The Silverswords will face Lincoln University in the final day of the tournament Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 4:45 p.m. Lincoln is coached by NBA Hall of Fame guard Gary Payton.
Cal State San Bernardino will face No. 8-ranked Central Oklahoma in the final game of the tournament at 7 p.m. in a matchup of top-10 squads in the NABC poll.
