FRESNO, Calif. – The Chaminade University men's basketball team wrapped up final mainland trip of the season Monday with an 89-82 overtime win over Fresno Pacific University at the Special Event Center.
The Silverswords' top two scorers,
Ross Reeves (Orem, Utah/Snow College/Orem HS) and
Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic), went for 32 and 22 points, respectively, a season-high for the former.
The 'Swords also got a lift from
Jessiya Villa (Laurel, Md./University of Hawai'i/Kahuku HS, Hawai'i), who added 14 off the bench, his highest scoring output since his freshman season when he had 14 against the University of Hawai'i Hilo on Feb. 21, 2021. Villa also had a season-high five assists, his most since Feb. 13, 2021 against Hawai'i Pacific University, and two shy of his career high.
Scott Ator (Murphy, Texas/College of the Sequoias/Wylie HS) had seven points and nine rebounds while he and
Kameron Ng (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Univ. of Hawai'i Hilo/Saint Francis HS) each dished out four assists.
Meanwhile, Amaral-Artharee's point total gave him 1,700 in his career, just 10 behind the great Will Pounds (1976-79) for second on the school's all-time scoring list.
Chaminade won its first overtime game this season after dropping its previous three. The Silverswords also swept the season series from the Sunbirds and improved to 10-17 and 6-13 in the Pacific West Conference.
Ryan Abbott had 15 points for Fresno Pacific, which fell to 7-17 and 5-11 in the PacWest.
Even though both teams are out of the running for a conference tournament bid, there was still plenty of competitiveness in the first half with six ties and six lead changes with CUH owning the biggest first-half lead of seven. Chaminade outscored FPU, 7-2, in the final two minutes to take a 43-35 halftime edge.
A jumper from
Kelton Samore (Portland, Ore./Seattle Pacific University/Grant HS) at the 16:24 mark gave the 'Swords their largest lead of 51-40 before the Sunbirds chipped away and eventually retook the lead at 58-57 eight minutes later.
The 'Swords managed get back in front and with 1:59 left, had a seven-point lead before FPU scored six on its next two possessions to get within 73-70. Then with six seconds left, Kyle Monk worked around a screen and drilled a 3-pointer to send the game into an extra session.
Reeves hit a triple to open the scoring in OT before the Sunbirds recaptured the lead at 77-76 with four free throws. The 'Swords answered when Reeves hit five from the charity stripe including three after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, putting them up 81-77.
Then with 1:27 left,
Wyatt Lowell (Gilbert, Ariz./University of Portland/William Fields HS) hit perhaps the biggest shot of the game, drilling his second 3-ball, putting Chaminade up, 84-77, to help secure the win.
The Silverswords shot 50 percent from the field and made nine 3-pointers. The Silverswords, the top free throw shooting team in Division II at 79.89 percent entering the day, was 14-of-19 against Fresno Pacific. They also had 31 rebounds and dished out 20 assists with 11 turnovers.
Fresno Pacific shot a respectable 47.7 percent with 10 triples and was 10-of-15 from the foul line. The Sunbirds had 36 boards, dished out 18 assists with 14 giveaways.
The Silverswords will close out the season on Thursday, Feb. 29, at in-city rival Hawai'i Pacific at the HPU Shark Tank. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
