HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's basketball team was looking to end their 2024-25 home campaign in style on Monday with a win that would help enhance their standing in the upcoming Pacific West Conference Championships.
Instead, the Silverswords' offense went frigid in the second half, opening the door for Fresno Pacific University to steal a 72-65 win at McCabe Gymnasium, spoiling Aloha Senior Night for three seniors.
One of the seniors,
Jackson Last (Hurricane, Utah/Robert Morris University/Hurricane HS), had 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks for the 'Swords, who shot just 23.5 percent (8-for-34) in the final 20 minutes to see a 10-point lead evaporate. That included going just 4-for-20 from 3-point range in the second half while Fresno Pacific made five of its seven.
Kent King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) added 13 points, six boards and six assists for Chaminade, which fell to 15-10. At 9-9 in the PacWest, they are locked in a three-way tie with Concordia University Irvine and Hawai'i Pacific University for the sixth and final tournament berth.
Roland Banks II (Bakersfield, Calif./Fullerton College/Cathedral HS) chipped in with 10 points and four assists.
Also playing their final games at McCabe Gym were guard
Kameron Ng (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Univ. of Hawai'i Hilo/Saint Francis HS), who had two points and four rebounds, and guard
Jamir Thomas (Berkeley, Calif./City College of San Francisco/Berkeley HS) who had six points.
Ryan Abbott had 16 points for the Sunbirds who improved to 11-14 and 8-9 in the conference. FPU, which made 12 of its 22 field goals in the second half, is still on the outside looking in but owns the tiebreaker over Chaminade thanks to its first-ever season sweep in the series. They also beat the 'Swords in consecutive games for the first time since joining the PacWest in 2012.
The 'Swords roared out of the gate as King had eight points to help stake them to a 20-8 lead before the Sunbirds responded with a 10-0 run. Chaminade had its own answer, building its lead back to 10 before setting for a 43-35 lead at the half.
The Silverswords grabbed a 52-42 edge with 16:15 remaining but Fresno Pacific reeled off 15 straight points to take a 57-52 advantage. CUH got to within a deuce three times, the final at 62-60 with 8:38 remaining. The Sunbirds' 8-0 run over the next three minutes would be the decisive stretch to help snap Chaminade's three game winning streak.
Chaminade shot 35.4 percent and was 12-of-36 from long distance. They were out-rebounded, 42-to-31, but forced 18 FPU giveaways.
The Silverswords will end their regular season with two crucial games against their island rivals, the University of Hawai'i Hilo this Thursday in Hilo at 7:30 p.m. They will close at HPU on Feb. 28.
