HILO, Hawai'i – In recent years, the Chaminade University men's basketball team couldn't figure out the University of Hawai'i Hilo.
The Vulcans nabbed 11 wins in 12 meetings – including seven straight – beginning in the COVID-shortened 2021 spring season, all under current head coach Kaniela Aiona, until the Silverswords finally ended the drought at the ending of last season with a victory in Hilo.
On Saturday, the 'Swords made it two straight over their long-time in-state rival with a gutsy 83-79 win at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium on the Big Island, the 133rd all-time meeting in the series which dates back to 1975 with CUH holding a 72-61 series lead.
Reigning Pacific West Conference Player of the Week
Nathan Medina (Long Beach, Calif./Biola University/Valley Christian HS) had 17 of his game-high 23 points including four of his six 3-pointers in the second half for a game-high 23 points.
Roland Banks II (Bakersfield, Calif./Fullerton College/Cathedral HS) added 16 points, four rebounds and three assists as the Silverswords saw a 12-point second half lead whittled down to just a single digit in the waning minutes before ensuring the win at the free throw line.
Chaminade, which is opening conference action with five straight road games, improved to 4-4 overall, with three of their overall losses coming to Division I Washington State, Texas and Boise State at the Southwest Maui Invitational. The 'Swords are also 2-0 in the PacWest for the first time since the 2018-19 season with both victories coming on the road. They also picked up two points in the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge.
Kris King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) chipped in with 13 points and five assists while
Fletcher MacDonald (Wollongong, Australia/Lubbock Christian Univ./Newington College HS) had 11 points and hauled in seven rebounds.
Reserve DeAndre Nobles had 18 points for UH Hilo, which is still seeking its first win of the season in falling to 0-6 and 0-2 in the PacWest.
Chaminade's first three field goals were behind the 3-point arc with Medina burying two and Banks getting another. An 11-0 run, paced by four points each from
Kent King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy), who had nine points in the game, and
Brycen Shackelford (Folsom, Calif./Folsom), who added eight, gave the 'Swords their biggest first half lead of 21-10 then again at 33-22.
However, the Vulcans managed to trim the deficit to four at several vantages including at the half with CUH taking a 43-39 edge at the break.
With the Vulcans employing a zone defense to start the second half, the 'Swords' lead was chipped to two before a 13-2 run expanded the lead to 59-47 on Medina's third 3-ball of the game. However UH Hilo kept rallying, closing to within 75-74 with 3:06 left.
After both teams traded several empty possessions, Medina buried a corner triple with 1:05 left to put Chaminade up 78-74. The 'Swords then fended off the Vulcans by making five of their final six free throws to earn another tough road win against an in-state rival.
Chaminade shot 42.9 percent from the field, making nine 3s and was 20-of-28 at the charity stripe. They also had the edge in the rebounding department for the first time since their Nov. 15 season opener against Alaska, crashing the glass for 39 boards to UH Hilo's 36. Nineteen of their rebounds came on the offensive end, resulting in a 17-9 edge in second-chance points. CUH had 14 assists, 17 turnovers and 10 steals.
UH Hilo shot 48.4 percent from the floor, was 6-of-20 at the 3-point arc and made 11-of-13 free throws, while dishing out 16 assists with 16 giveaways.
The Silverswords will take next week off for finals then resume action on Monday, Dec. 15 at Vanguard University, the first of three games in Southern California.
