HONOLULU – At some point, one would think the Chaminade University men's basketball team would get a break going their way.
On Saturday, the basketball gods continued to frown upon the Silverswords, dealing them a 75-73 overtime defeat to two-time defending Pacific West Conference champion Point Loma at McCabe Gymnasium.
It was yet another close setback for Chaminade, who are now 1-6 this season in PacWest games decided by five points or loss, and 1-4 in games decided on the final possession.
Reigning PacWest Player of the Week
Ross Reeves (Orem, Utah/Snow College/Orem HS) continued to put lots of ink in the official scorebook with 25 points, his fifth straight 20-point outing and seven of his last eight.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) added 16 points with six rebounds and four assists while
Wyatt Lowell (Gilbert, Ariz./University of Portland/William Fields HS) chipped in 13 more including three 3-pointers.
Kameron Ng (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Univ. of Hawai'i Hilo/Saint Francis HS) had five of his nine points in the overtime period.
Chris Bready (Milwaukee, Wis./New Mexico Military Institute/Waukesha West HS) hauled in a career-high nine boards and
Scott Ator (Murphy, Texas/College of the Sequoias/Wylie HS) pulling in seven.
The short-handed Silverswords, who had just nine on the active roster, ended their five-game home stand and fell to 7-15 on the season and 3-11 in the PacWest and saw their streak extend to six straight defeats in the series.
The Sea Lions, who have been without the services of 2022-23 All-PacWest guard Luke Haupt all season and most recently dealing with the loss of leading scorer Jake Lifgren, got a career-high 27 from Coby Barnes, nine coming in the final five minutes of regulation. Point Loma improved to 14-6 and 9-3 in the PacWest.
PLNU completed its Hawai'i tour having all three games going into overtime, winning two. Their only loss came at Hawai'i Hilo, thanks to a desperation game-tying 3-pointer from Noar Zedd at the end of regulation.
Neither team managed to gain a significant lead over the other throughout. Chaminade's largest was seven early in the second half while Point Loma's was six midway through the first.
As the contest neared its conclusion, there were three ties and three lead changes inside of five minutes with Barnes being responsible for all three go-ahead scores. Meanwhile the 'Swords managed to even the scoreboard thanks to a three-point play from Ator with layups from Amaral-Arthree and Reeves, the latter coming with 28 seconds left. Barnes missed the potential game-winner at the horn, proving he was indeed human, forcing an extra five-minute period.
Zach Paulsen had half of Point Loma's 10 in overtime and seemingly gave them a comfortable margin with free throws which put them up 75-70 with 23 seconds left. But Reeves had an answer, converting on an and-one on the ensuing possession, narrowing the deficit to 75-73 with three seconds left. After being fouled, Paulsen left the door ajar by missing both subsequent free throws. Reeves' heave from just beyond half court hit nothing but glass, allowing Point Loma to escape.
Chaminade shot 50 percent and held Point Loma to 31.4 in the first half but the second was a reversal with CUH shooting just 36.8 in the final 25 minutes while PLNU had a 57.1 percentage during the same stretch. The 'Swords had 10 triples, 40 rebounds and 12 assists but committed 18 turnovers.
The Sea Lions made nine 3-pointers, was 12-of-19 from the charity stripe, pulled in 24 rebounds and had 12 giveaways. They outscored the 'Swords, 23-to-6 in points off turnovers.
The Silverswords will make the short flight to the Big Island on Saturday, Feb. 3 to face UH Hilo in a rematch of the Nov. 16 contest won by the Vulcans in overtime and will seek to end a five-game slide in the series. Tipoff at Vulcans Gymnasium is 7 p.m.
