HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's basketball team on Thursday suffered a 71-58 decision to Azusa Pacific at McCabe Gymnasium.
Pacific West Conference Player of the Week
Ross Reeves (Orem, Utah/Snow College/Orem HS) continued his torrid January with 20 points and seven assists, the redshirt sophomore's sixth 20-point game of the 2024 calendar year.
Wyatt Lowell (Gilbert, Ariz./University of Portland/William Fields HS) added 11 points and six rebounds and
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) had nine, moving him past Kuany Kuany (2013-17) into third in the school's all-time scoring list, while
Scott Ator (Murphy, Texas/College of the Sequoias/Wylie HS) hauled in seven boards.
The short-handed Silverswords, down to just eight healthy players after losing two to injury earlier in the week, fell to 7-14 and 3-10 in the PacWest.
Bryce Sloan and George Reidy each had 16 for the Cougars (6-12, 5-6 PacWest), who have won the last seven meetings between the two teams. Ken West, who blitzed the 'Swords with 32 points and six 3-pointers in the first meeting earlier this month, was held to 11 but made several big shots in the second half.
The 3s were falling early for Chaminade, which made three in the opening five minutes with Lowell, Amaral-Artharee and Reeves each knocking one down.
Kameron Ng (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Univ. of Hawai'i Hilo/Saint Francis HS) scored five with a baseline jumper and a 3-pointer to give CUH a 16-15 lead. But the 'Swords went scoreless during a five-minute stretch, enabling APU to grab a 24-16 lead. Lowell's second triple chopped the deficit to 24-22 with 5:13 left but the Cougars ended the half with an 11-4 run to own a 35-26 lead at halftime.
Chaminade managed to stay within striking range much throughout the second half and worked the deficit to 61-57 on a Reeves' triple with 4:03 left. However, APU answered on a 10-0 binge including deflating 3-pointers from Nate Kleppe and West.
The 'Swords shot 32.8 percent from the field and made 10 triples with a 10-of-12 free throw line display. They had 12 assists and 10 turnovers but were out-rebounded, 46-to-28.
Azusa Pacific shot 43.1 percent and made 12 3-balls with an equal number of assists and turnovers (12 each).
The Silverswords wrap up their five-game home stand Saturday against defending champion Point Loma at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.
