ATHERTON, Calif. – The Chaminade University men's basketball team opened their first mainland trip of the season on Tuesday with a 92-88 come-from-behind win over Menlo College at Haynes-Prim Pavilion.
Amound Anderson (Los Angeles, Calif./Fullerton College/Leuzinger HS) and
Kent King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) both had 23 points in coming off the bench for the Silverswords, who trailed by nine midway through the second half.
Roland Banks II (Bakersfield, Calif./Fullerton College/Cathedral HS) added 17 more along with five assists for the 'Swords.
Kris King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) chipped in with 13 points and six rebounds for the 'Swords, who improved to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the Pacific West Conference.
The Silverswords, who entered Tuesday fifth in Division II in turnovers forced at 21.0 per game, forced Menlo to give it up the same amount, 13 in the second half which helped fuel their comeback. Twenty-eight of their points came off Menlo giveaways.
It was the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs but the first since December 1997. Chaminade has won all six matchups. It is also the only meeting of the season between the two teams.
Landon Seaman led Menlo, in its inaugural year in the PacWest, with 22 points, falling to 3-7 and 0-3.
After trailing for much of the opening nine minutes, Anderson buried a 3-pointer to give the 'Swords their first lead of 17-15 and would go on to extend their lead to as many as eight on three separate occasions, the last coming on a basket from
Jackson Last (Hurricane, Utah/Robert Morris University/Hurricane HS). However, the Oaks finished the first half on a 12-2 run, giving them a 45-40 edge at the break.
The game appeared to take an ominous turn for Chaminade at the 16:20 mark of the second half. Deadlocked at 50, the Silverswords were assessed back-to-back technical fouls, resulting in four free throws for Menlo, which made three. The Oaks then scored a basket on their subsequent possession to take a 55-50 edge.
Menlo's lead extended to as many as nine with 14 minutes left and owned a 67-60 lead three minutes later. Banks and
Kent King would lead a 13-4 CUH run over the next three minutes, capped by Anderson who drilled a right-wing 3-pointer, his second of three triples he sank, giving Chaminade a 73-71 lead with 7:37 remaining, its first since two minutes left in the first half.
Although the Silverswords built their lead to 86-79 with two minutes left, Menlo would charge back, drawing to within a point with 12 seconds remaining. With CUH up 90-88 and three seconds left, the Oaks intentionally missed their second free throw in an attempt for a game-tying tip-in or game-winning 3-ball. Instead Menlo fouled
Kent King, who drilled both free throws to seal the come-from-behind win.
Chaminade made half of its 68 shots from the floor overall but converted 57 percent in the final 20 minutes. They made seven triples, were 17-of-23 at the charity stripe, hauled in 32 boards with 12 assists, 15 turnovers and had 14 steals. The 'Swords outscored Menlo, 24-12, in fast-break points.
The Oaks shot 54.7 percent in the game and took just 10 shots beyond the arc, making three. They also attempted 38 free throws, making 27, and grabbed 33 boards.
The Silverswords continue their road trip Thursday at Dominican University of California. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Hawai'i time.
