AZUSA, Calif. – The Chaminade University men's basketball team finished their four-game Southern California road jaunt Saturday with a 96-69 loss to Azusa Pacific at the Felix Event Center.
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic) had 17 points with
Wyatt Lowell (Gilbert, Ariz./University of Portland/William Fields HS) getting a season-high 14.
Jamir Thomas (Berkeley, Calif./City College of San Francisco/Berkeley HS) posted 13 more
Kelton Samore (Portland, Ore./Seattle Pacific University/Grant HS) chipped in with 10.
Chris Bready (Milwaukee, Wis./New Mexico Military Institute/Waukesha West HS), getting his second career start, had a team-high seven rebounds with
Jessiya Villa (Laurel, Md./University of Hawai'i/Kahuku HS, Hawai'i) dishing out a season-high four assists.
The Silverswords, who have dropped the last six meetings to APU, fell to 6-11 overall and 2-7 in the Pacific West Conference, as the 96 is the most they allowed to a Division II foe all season.
Ken West hit six 3-pointers for 32 points – 25 in the first half – in the Cougars' largest margin of victory in the series. Azusa Pacific, the preseason favorite to win the PacWest and began the year 1-8, is 4-9 and 3-3 in the PacWest, have won three of its last four.
Momentum from Thursday's win at Concordia seemed to carry over in the opening minutes against the Cougars. Thomas was particularly hot, knocking down his first three triples while Samore added two shots inside the paint to put the 'Swords up, 13-4.
But as quick as their start was, the situation suddenly spiraled downwards. Over the next 14-plus minutes, APU caught fire, going on a 44-13 blitz, missing just seven of its 21 shots including 8-of-12 from 3-point range with West posting 20 of his points during the run.
Meanwhile, the 'Swords couldn't buy a bucket, making just 4-of-17 while suffering seven turnovers during the same span. That included an eight-minute stretch without a field goal which finally ended with
Brycen Shackelford's (Folsom, Calif./Folsom) layup with 3:11 left.
Fittingly, West hit a 3-poiner right before the halftime buzzer to put the Cougars up, 53-32, at the break, the most first-half points the 'Swords surrendered this season.
Chaminade could not re-capture their opening start touch in the second half as the deficit grew to as many as 35.
The 'Swords shot 39 percent with nine 3-pointers and made 14 of their 19 free throws. They also had 34 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
APU who a whopping 52.4 percent from the floor with 15 3-pointers while making 15-of-18 free throws. The Cougars grabbed 37 boards with 19 assists and just seven turnovers.
The Silverswords get a much-needed return to McCabe Gymnasium, opening a five-game home standing starting Saturday, Jan. 13, against Academy of Art, as they try to work their way back up the PacWest standings. It will be their first home game since Dec. 2, a span of 42 days. Tipoff is schedule for 3 p.m. or 25 minutes after the completion of the women's game.
