HONOLULU – Whenever the Chaminade University and Hawai'i Pacific University men's basketball teams get together, records go out the window.
Friday was just another example of how the won-loss totals are meaningless.
The Silverswords, who were looking to take another step in solidifying a spot in next month's Pacific West Conference Championships, were upset by the Sharks, 83-72, at McCabe Gymnasium. A spirited crowd of 321 saw the latest chapter between the two longtime in-city rivals.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) tied his career high with 27 points, hitting 10-of-18 shots from the floor, and
Tredyn Christensen (Eagle Mountain, Utah/Snow College/Westlake HS) with 12 for Chaminade, which could not overcome five Sharks who scored in double figures.
The loss was the seventh straight for Chaminade, which fell to 8-15 overall and 6-11 in the PacWest. Despite the loss, the 'Swords maintained a three-win lead over Holy Names and Dominican after both teams also lost earlier in the day.
Trey Chapman was 8-of-9 from the floor for a game-high 21 points for HPU which snapped its 16-game losing streak for its first conference win of the season at 4-16 overall and 1-13 in the PacWest. This despite not having head coach Darren Vordebruegge available due to health and safety protocols and guard Rodney Hounshell, one of the conference's top scorers, being held scoreless for the first time this season.
Chaminade's two graduate transfers,
Joseph Smoyer (Portland, Ore./Columbia University/Franklin HS) and
Zach McIntire (Delaware, Ohio/Mercyhurst University/Delaware Hayes HS) had nine and seven points, respectively. McIntire also had eight rebounds while Smoyer pulled down six as did Amaral-Artharee who also had four assists.
Raazhel Watkins (Concord, Calif./Sacramento State/College Park HS) dropped five dimes for the 'Swords.
Neither team was able to make a significant run in the first nine minutes of the game with four ties and seven lead changes. Amaral-Artharee's bucket with 10:37 remaining in the first half put the 'Swords down 21-20. But Chaminade went cold from the floor and did not get another basket until
Sawyer Storms (Idaho Falls, Idaho/College of Southern Idaho/Idaho Falls HS) hit a 3-pointer nearly nine minutes later. Between baskets, HPU had built a 35-27 advantage until Storms' triple, on-route to a 37-32 halftime edge.
Chaminade came out firing to start the second half, getting dunks on consecutive possessions by McIntire and Smoyer, the latter capping a 6-0 run to put them ahead, 38-37. But the Sharks methodically went back ahead and steadily built their lead to 63-54 at the 7:11 mark. Then with 5:12 remaining, Jackson Young banged a corner 3 as the shot clock expired to put HPU up 66-54 which seemed to take the air of out the Chaminade faithful. The 'Swords could get no closer than nine the remainder of the game.
Chaminade shot 41.4 percent from the floor, outrebounded HPU, 38-to-32, had 16 assists with both team committing just nine turnovers. But the Sharks were 31-of-57 from the field for 54.4 percent including a blistering 16-of-25 (64 percent) in the second half.
Following the game, McIntire and Smoyer were honored as the two seniors.
However, they will have one more chance to get into the win column at McCabe Gym. The Silverswords will play their final home game on Tuesday against Fresno Pacific, which is a makeup of the Jan. 6 postponement because of health and safety protocols. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m., two hours ahead than normal to allow FPU to return to the mainland later in the evening.
