FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The Chaminade University men's basketball on Friday opened the 2023-24 season with a 77-72 loss to the University of Alaska Anchorage in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge at the Alaska Airlines Gymnasium.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) led the Silverswords with 16 points while newcomer
Jamir Thomas (Berkeley, Calif./City College of San Francisco/Berkeley HS) added 14 and
Ross Reeves (Orem, Utah/Snow College/Orem HS) 10.
Scott Ator (Murphy, Texas/College of the Sequoias/Wylie HS) pulled down 11 rebounds, tying his career high, and also had three blocks.
The defeat to the Seawolves was a rarity on two fronts: First, it snapped seven straight seasons of the 'Swords winning their season opener. Secondly, it also broke the six-game winning streak against Alaska Anchorage.
The game was hotly contested with no lead ever reaching double digits at any point.
Tyson Gilbert and Bishop Tosi combined for 51 UAA points in their win.
Alaska Anchorage owned the game's largest lead of nine coming at in the first half. A Reeves triple early in the second half gave the 'Swords a 41-40 lead, their first since it was 2-0 in the opening possession.
UAA reassumed the lead two possessions later followed by a flurry of lead changes totaling eight in all over a three-minute span midway through the second half. Jaron Williams' triple tilted the score back to the Seawolves' favor at the nine-minute mark.
A triple by Thomas with 3:56 left tied it at 70 but Alaska Anchorage hit five free throws inside the final three minutes to keep the 'Swords at bay.
Chaminade shot 42.1 percent from the floor, making 8-of-26 from 3-point range and 16-of-20 from the free throw line. Alaska Anchorage shot just under 42 percent, made 7-of-25 from triples range and was 20-of-28 from the charity stripe.
UAA had the rebound edge at 37-to-34, had 13 assists to Chaminade's nine.
The Silverswords will wrap up the PacWest/GNAC Challenge Saturday against host Alaska at 4:30 p.m. Hawai'i time.
