HONOLULU – This season's schedule for the Chaminade University men's basketball team has been unique, to say the least.
Entering the 2026 new year, the Silverswords played just two home games – including one exhibition – while four were at neutral venues and six on the road.
On Tuesday, Chaminade played for the first time in 24 days, tied for the second-longest stretch between games (surpassed only by a 25-day layoff during the 1996-97 season). And playing their first game at the friendly confines of McCabe Gymnasium since Nov. 19, the 'Swords gave the fans a homecoming to remember.
Nate Sasser III (West Palm Beach, Fla./Casper College/Suncoast HS) hit a layup off a
Roland Banks II (Bakersfield, Calif./Fullerton College/Cathedral HS) inbounds lob with 1.6 seconds left to lift Chaminade to a thrilling 78-77 overtime win over Vanguard University.
The Silverswords, who opened a five-game homestand which will also see them play 11 of their next 14 at home, won their Pacific West Conference home opener to improve to 7-5 overall and stay atop the conference standings at 5-1. Their win in Costa Mesa last month also allowed them to sweep the season series.
Nathan Medina (Long Beach, Calif./Biola University/Valley Christian HS), who was honored prior to tipoff for scoring his 1,000th career point in his previous game at Westmont, hit four 3-pointers enroute to a team-high 22 points.
Kent King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) had 15 points, a career-high-tying 13 rebounds while also dishing out five assists for the 'Swords. Banks added 14 points, a career-best 11 boards and had seven assists which included the dish on Sasser's game-winner. Sasser himself had 10 points as did
Kris King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy).
Erik Howlin had 23 for Vanguard which fell to 8-5 and 4-3 in the PacWest. The Lions had won their last two and three of their last four entering Tuesday.
CUH got off to an inauspicious start, making just three of its first 15 shots and found themselves trailing 23-10 eight minutes in. The 'Swords trailed for all but 48 seconds as the Lions built a 36-27 halftime lead.
Chaminade managed to put a dent in the deficit, tying it at 48 on Medina's triple with 10:27 left. Vanguard responded by going on mini-runs but the 'Swords had answers of their own. With 1:30 left in regulation,
Kris King knocked down a baseline jumper, putting them up 64-63, their first lead since early in the first half.
Medina hit a pair of free throws with nine seconds left but the Lions got a stunning game-tying 3-pointer from former Silversword Carson Frawley with just four seconds left to force overtime, Chaminade's second OT contest this season.
A Vanguard layup with 18 seconds left put them ahead 77-76 to set up the final dramatics. With 2.6 seconds remaining, Banks, inbounding from the baseline, lobbed a pass between two defenders at the basket to Sasser who hit the alley-oop banker with 1.6 seconds left.
Vanguard's desperation half-court heave at the buzzer wasn't close to allow the 'Swords to improve to 4-2 in games decided by six points or less.
Chaminade, which trailed for over 35 minutes, made 38.2 percent of its shots but was 4-of-6 in overtime, made 6-of-21 from long distance and was 20-of-30 at the charity stripe. Vanguard was at a 39.4 percent shooting clip and was held to just 10-of-39 from 3-point range.
CUH held a 46-to-44 rebounding advantage and forced 20 turnovers while dishing out 16 assists.
The Silverswords' homestand continues Thursday against Menlo College. Tipoff is scheduled for 25 minutes after the completion of the women's game.
