HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's basketball competed a successful opening weekend Saturday with a 91-69 win over the University of Alaska Anchorage in the final day of the PacWest/GNAC Challenge.
Jackson Last (Hurricane, Utah/Robert Morris University/Hurricane HS) poured in 24 points – a career high which included his two seasons at Robert Morris University – and added five rebounds to help the Silverswords win their McCabe Gymnasium opener.
Kris King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists for the 'Swords, who are 2-0 in the young season.
Roland Banks II (Bakersfield, Calif./Fullerton College/Cathedral HS) had 15 points while
Jamir Thomas (Berkeley, Calif./City College of San Francisco/Berkeley HS) added 14 with four 3-pointers including three which came during a frantic 30-second span midway through the second half.
After defeating the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Friday's opener at the Hawai'i Pacific University Shark Tank, the Silverswords completed the sweep of the Alaska programs for the first time since 2021. They are 14-4 all-time in the nine-year history of the Challenge against their Last Frontier opponents.
The Seawolves fell to 2-5 on the season with Hasaan Herrington getting a team-high 20 points.
Chaminade led wire-to-wire, getting buckets from
Amound Anderson (Los Angeles, Calif./Fullerton College/Leuzinger HS) and
Fletcher MacDonald (Wollongong, Australia/Lubbock Christian Univ./Newington College HS) to open the contest.
After UAA got to within 8-6, the 'Swords went on a 21-2 surge over the next six minutes to grab a commanding 29-8 lead. Banks had seven points during the stretch with King and Last adding five more each.
Although the Seawolves got to within 39-25 early in the second half, the 'Swords were able to build their lead back to 20 a few minutes later and were never threatened again.
Chaminade shot 55 percent from the floor and made 10-of-22 from 3-point range. They also made 15-of-19 from the free throw line. The 'Swords grabbed 36 rebounds with 20 assists and 11 steals, Anderson getting five of them. They also outscored Alaska Anchorage, 46-to-26 in the paint.
The Seawolves shot 42.1 percent from the floor, were 8-of-25 from long distance and were 13-of-23 from the free throw line. They had 31 rebounds and committed 16 turnovers.
The Silverswords return to action on Monday when they face Alaska in a rematch of Friday's meeting. Tipoff at McCabe Gym is set for 7 p.m.
