HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's basketball team on Saturday dropped their Pacific West Conference opener to interisland rival University of Hawai'i Hilo, 82-63, at McCabe Gymnasium.
Kris King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) had 17 points for the Silverswords as did
Amound Anderson (Los Angeles, Calif./Fullerton College/Leuzinger HS) who did his from the bench.
Roland Banks II (Bakersfield, Calif./Fullerton College/Cathedral HS) and
Fletcher MacDonald (Wollongong, Australia/Lubbock Christian Univ./Newington College HS) each had six points and seven rebounds for the 'Swords (5-2, 0-1 PacWest) who dropped their second straight after winning their first five of the season.
The Silverswords were held to their lowest scoring output of the season, nearly 36 points below their season average entering the game.
Jake Kosakowski led UH Hilo (5-4, 1-1 PacWest) with 17 points.
The loss was Chaminade's seventh straight to the Vulcans, the longest since UH Hilo won the first nine meetings from 1975 to 1978. The 19-point margin of defeat is the largest in the series since a 119-85 loss on Feb. 4, 1994.
The Silverswords never led in the game and started a frigid 3-for-25 from the field in the first 13 minutes. Despite their offensive woes, they were still well within striking range, trailing 23-12, holding Hilo to just 8-of-23 shooting in the same span.
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Jackson Last (Hurricane, Utah/Robert Morris University/Hurricane HS) dunk on the Vulcans' shot-blocking phenom Nadjrick Peat helped get their offense in gear.
Kent King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) helped spark a 17-8 run as the 'Swords hit all six of their shots including a pair of Anderson 3-pointers to help Chaminade close to within 33-31 with two minutes left in the half, although the Vulcans held a 39-32 edge at the break.
Like the beginning of the game, a cold start to the second half proved to be the difference. The 'Swords had just two points, hitting just one of their first nine tries and UH Hilo out-scored the home team, 14-3, to start which included a layup from
Jessiya Villa, who played for the 'Swords the past four seasons. CUH trailed 53-35 after the first five minutes before Anderson finally got their second field goal on a driving layup.
Chaminade managed to get within 13 but never got any closer.
The 'Swords shot just 30.9 percent from the floor and just 5-of-22 from deep while making 16-of-22 free throws. They grabbed 38 rebounds with eight assists and 10 turnovers.
The Vulcans shot 50.8 from the field, made 9-of-25 triples and were 11-of-18 at the charity stripe. They dished out 15 assists, committed just 13 turnovers and had eight blocked shots, six by Peat.
The Silverswords will look to get back on track Tuesday when they host Nobel University at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
