LAHAINA, Maui, Hawai'i – Prior to the start of Monday's Southwest Maui Invitational opener for the Chaminade University men's basketball team, the late Silverswords' head coach Merv Lopes was honored.
And for much of the game, it seemed the spirit of the program's all-time winningest coach, who orchestrated numerous upsets over Division I bluebloods including against No. 1 Virginia in 1982 that led to the creation of the tournament, was smiling on the Silverswords.
But a 10-minute stretch in the second half saw a 20-point lead evaporate as the 'Swords dropped a 90-85 defeat to Washington State University at the Lahaina Civic Center, the team's first game at the venue in six years.
Kent King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) had a team-high 20 points ,10 rebounds and five assists while
Nathan Medina (Long Beach, Calif./Biola University/Valley Christian HS) added 15 for the Silverswords, who led for nearly 25 minutes.
Roland Banks II (Bakersfield, Calif./Fullerton College/Cathedral HS) and
Brandon Haddock (Southlake, Texas/University of Utah/Carroll HS) each had 14 points for the 'Swords (2-2).
Ace Glass led the Cougars (3-3) with 26 points in the first meeting between the two programs.
Playing at the Civic Center, the longtime home of the Southwest Maui Invitational for the first time since 2019, the Silverswords opened the contest like they were shot out of a cannon. After scoring the game's first four points, the 'Swords built their lead to 16-13. From there, Medina had eight of 15 straight points by Chaminade, part of a 23-6 surge, that gave them a 39-19 lead with six minutes left in the first half.
The Cougars managed to close within nine right before the break but King's pull-up jumper as time expired put CUH up 52-41 at halftime. The 'Swords' suffocating full-court press forced 15 WSU turnovers resulting in 17 points.
But Washington State turned the tables on Chaminade in the second half, outscoring them 40-10 in the first 11 minutes of the half, grabbing an 81-64 lead with 8:53 left.
A 3-pointer by Rihards Vavers with 7:15 left put the Cougars up 84-68 and proved to be their final basket of the game. Chaminade, however, had one final push. King buried a 3 then twin brother
Kris King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) knocked down a triple of his own. That was followed by a putback by Banks and suddenly, Chaminade's 13-0 surge put them down just 84-81 with 1:45 remaining.
But Washington State made six straight free throws to keep the 'Swords no less than three points away to help them avoid becoming Chaminade's ninth all-time Southwest Maui Invitational victim.
The Silverswords shot 50.8 percent from the floor, was 6-of-22 from the 3-point arc and was 15-of-25 at the free throw line. They also had 24 rebounds, dished out 14 assists and forced 23 turnovers.
The Cougars shot 52.6 percent, made 12-of-25 from downtown and 18-of-26 at the charity stripe with 45 boards and 17 assists.
The Silverswords will face the University of Texas in Tuesday's consolation semifinal. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN 2.
