HONOLULU – The last time the Chaminade University men's basketball team faced Lincoln University, the two-game series in November 2021 was scrubbed when extremely humid weather conditions rendered the McCabe Gymnasium slick and unplayable.
There were no cancelations this time as the Silverswords got the 83-76 win in Saturday's final day of the Hoops in Hawai'i Thanksgiving Classic presented by Outrigger Hotels Hawai'i held at the Hawai'i Pacific University Shark Tank.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) poured in a career-high 31 points, hitting nine field goals including six 3-pointers – also a career high – to help Chaminade (2-2) snap a two-game losing streak.
Raazhel Watkins (Concord, Calif./Sacramento State/College Park HS) added a season-high 14 points and four assists with
Ross Reeves (Orem, Utah/Snow College/Orem HS) chipping in 13 points and three steals for the 'Swords.
Braden Olsen (West Linn, Ore./Gannon University/West Linn HS) dished out a game-high six assists, which matched what the Oaklanders had as a team. Olsen also had seven points as did
Jalen Brattain (Shallowater, Texas/Lubbock Christian Univ./Shallowater HS), who also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Agjanti Miller had a team-high 20 points for Lincoln, an up-and-coming athletic program out of Oakland, California.
Amaral-Artharee, who was named to the all-tournament team, sank a pair of triples early to put Chaminade up early, 6-0, before the Oaklanders mounted a run and led by as many as 24-17 midway through the half. The 'Swords responded with their biggest rally of the half as Reeves buried two 3s including one which completed a 10-0 run to give them a 27-24 advantage, their first lead since it was 8-7.
After Lincoln went back ahead for a 31-27 lead at the 6:14 mark, Amaral-Artharee bookended a 12-2 half-ending run with a 3-pointer, his third of the half, and a three-point play which helped the Silverswords take a 39-33 lead at the break.
Amaral-Arthree continued his hot streak with a triple in Chaminade's opening possession of the second half. Watkins added five points of his own to give the 'Swords a 51-37 advantage some four minutes in.
The biggest momentum changer came with 9:52 remaining and Chaminade leading 60-45. Oaklanders head coach Gary Payton, an NBA Hall of Fame guard best known for his years with the Seattle SuperSonics, was ejected after picking up two technical fouls for arguing with the officiating crew on a foul. Amaral-Artharee hit all four technical free throws to give Chaminade a 19-point lead, its largest of the game.
Lincoln would close to within six with eight seconds remaining but Watkins hit a free throw to make it a three-possession game, ending all hopes for a Lincoln miracle comeback.
The 'Swords shot a season-high 45.5 percent from the floor and made 13 3-pointers, also a season high. In addition to Amaral-Artharee's career-high in 3s, Reeves hit three while
Chris Bready (Milwaukee, Wis./New Mexico Military Institute/Waukesha West HS) hit two.
Chaminade also made 20-of-25 free throws with Amaral-Artharee making all seven tries. Rebounds were even at 36 while Lincoln had 15 turnovers to the 'Swords' 20. Lincoln shot at a 44.3 percent clip and made just two 3-pointers.
The Silverswords return to the Shark Tank for the fifth and final time this season when they open Pacific West Conference action on Tuesday, Nov. 29 against HPU. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
