HONOLULU – If one looked at the stats printout without looking at the score of Wednesday's matchup between the Chaminade University and University of Hawai'i Hilo's men's basketball teams, one would think it would be the Silverswords who came out ahead.
Quite the contrary.
Despite dominating on the boards and hitting six more 3-pointers, the Silverswords trailed for most of the game and ultimately came away on the short end of a 75-68 decision at McCabe Gymnasium.
The 'Swords pounded the glass by a 48-to-29 margin and hit 10 triples to UH Hilo's four but in the end, they could not overcome 19 turnovers resulting in 19 Vulcan points. By contrast, UH Hilo had just nine giveaways.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) led Chaminade with a game-high 20 points followed by
Raazhel Watkins (Concord, Calif./Sacramento State/College Park HS) with 18.
Paris Taylor (Bolivar, Tenn./University of Wisconsin Green Bay/Central HS) pulled down a team-best eight rebounds while
Tredyn Christensen (Eagle Mountain, Utah/Snow College/Westlake HS) had four assists.
Joseph Smoyer (Portland, Ore./Columbia University/Franklin HS) also tied his career high of seven boards which he initially set as a freshman at the University of Portland in December 2016.
Kevin Kremer (Chico, Calif./University of Utah/Pleasant Valley HS) and Watkins also had seven boards.
Max Hunnert had 15 for the Vulcans. While Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones added 14 points, Chaminade limited the all-Pacific West Conference forward to just three field goals on a career-low five shots attempted before he fouled out with 52 seconds remaining.
The Silverswords fell to 8-14 overall, 6-10 in the PacWest, while seeing their losing streak extended to six games, the program's longest against exclusively Division II opponents since the dropping seven straight during the 2011-12 season.
UH Hilo improved to 12-9 overall and 8-6 in the conference.
Amaral-Artharee drilled a pair of 3s while Watkins had short jumper as the 'Swords opened the game with a quick 8-2 lead. Tied at 20 at the 6:46 mark of the first half, Watkins hit a free throw to put the 'Swords up but little did anyone know at the time, it would their final lead of the game. Kunnet hit a triple on the Vulcans' next possession to give them the lead for good.
Chaminade ended up chasing the rest of the way and trailed by double-digits much of the second half.
Sawyer Storms (Idaho Falls, Idaho/College of Southern Idaho/Idaho Falls HS) 3-pointer with 4:05 left finally got the deficit to single digits at 68-59. However the 'Swords were not able to put on a significant run to make much more of a dent in UH Hilo's lead.
The 'Swords made 34.4 percent of their shots while the Vulcans made 48.2 percent of theirs.
The Silverswords will face in-city rival Hawai'i Pacific University on Friday which will be Senior Night. Following the game,
Zach McIntire (Delaware, Ohio/Mercyhurst University/Delaware Hayes HS) and Smoyer will both be honored. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
At halftime of the game, the women's volleyball team will be honored for capturing the 2021 PacWest volleyball championship, the program's first since 1996.
