HONOLULU – The Chaminade University men's basketball team on Saturday rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to defeat Pacific West Conference newcomer Jessup University, 72-66, at McCabe Gymnasium.
Jackson Last (Hurricane, Utah/Robert Morris University/Hurricane HS) scored 18 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to help the Silverswords win for the third time in as many chances during their final home stand of the season.
Last, a graduate transfer who is nearing the end of his collegiate playing career, made seven of his eight shots including both 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes to help ignite the 'Swords, who trailed by 10 with 14:12 left and by seven with 5:46 remaining.
Chaminade improved to 15-9 overall, guaranteeing them a winning season for the first time since the 2019-20 season. At 9-8 in the PacWest, the 'Swords are clinging to the sixth and final spot in next month's conference championship tournament.
The team also got a boost from the return of three Silverswords, who were injured in recent weeks.
Kris King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy), who missed the last five games, had 13 points and four assists in his first game back while
Amound Anderson (Los Angeles, Calif./Fullerton College/Leuzinger HS) had 12 points and two blocks after missing the last four.
Kameron Ng (Kaneohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i/Univ. of Hawai'i Hilo/Saint Francis HS), who had four assists on Saturday, was also back in the lineup after missing the last game against Academy of Art, which reduced the roster to just seven players.
Fletcher MacDonald (Wollongong, Australia/Lubbock Christian Univ./Newington College HS) had eight boards for CUH while
Kent King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) had 10 points.
Tamatoa Humbert had 14 for the feisty Warriors who, despite their 7-14 and 4-11 conference marks which brings up the PacWest caboose, played better than their records indicated.
Despite a first half in which they made just seven shots to Jessup's 15 and trailed for 11 minutes, the 'Swords kept themselves in the game by making 12-of-14 free throws while the Warriors had just one trip to the line.
Jessup's success on the floor continued as they built their lead to 45-35 early in the second half. With 5:46 remaining, the Warriors pushed their lead to 61-54. From there, the 'Swords caught fire.
Roland Banks II (Bakersfield, Calif./Fullerton College/Cathedral HS) sparked the Chaminade comeback with a corner triple then two free throws on their next possession.
Kris King then found a cutting Last down the baseline for the tying layup on the ensuing possession.
Jamir Thomas (Berkeley, Calif./City College of San Francisco/Berkeley HS) then broke the deadlock with an off-balanced 3-pointer with two minutes left. Last then stuck a triple with 1:14 left to push the lead to four and the 'Swords iced it by making five free throws.
Chaminade shot just under 39 percent from the floor with free throws being crucial, making 23-of-27 while Jessup made just six trips to the charity stripe. Despite being out-rebounded, 35-to-31, they forced 22 turnovers.
The Silverswords will play their final home game of the season on Monday against Fresno Pacific with tipoff at 7:30 p.m. Last, Ng and Thomas will be the seniors who will be honored after the game.
