IRVINE, Calif. – Saturday was a busy day for Chaminade University teams in the city of Irvine. The women's basketball team was in action for the typical Pacific West Conference hoops doubleheader while the softball team was just down the road with a twin bill at the Concordia Kickoff Classic softball tournament.
While both teams fell in their respective games, it was up to the men's basketball team to try and salvage a victory for 'Swords Ohana.
Unfortunately for Chaminade fans, Concordia used a big first-half run to deal an 80-68 setback at CU Arena and hand the 'Swords their second defeat in as many games on their Southern California road trip.
Roland Banks II (Bakersfield, Calif./Fullerton College/Cathedral HS) and
Kris King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) each posted 14 points while
Nathan Medina (Long Beach, Calif./Biola University/Valley Christian HS) added 10 for the 'Swords who dropped consecutive games for just the second time this season.
Chaminade, which has dropped three of its last four, fell to 10-8 overall and 8-4 in the PacWest. The 'Swords, who started the road trip as the conference leaders, remain just percentage points ahead of Hawai'i Pacific for the second spot in the PacWest ladder.
Fletcher MacDonald (Wollongong, Australia/Lubbock Christian Univ./Newington College HS) pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds to go along with eight points and two blocks while
Kent King (Washington, D.C./Vincennes University/Fork Union Military Academy) had 10 boards and eight points.
The 3-point shot, a Silversword staple which made them one of the top long-range teams in the PacWest, was non-factor on Saturday. Chaminade made just one from distance, courtesy of
Brandon Haddock (Southlake, Texas/University of Utah/Carroll HS), the fewest since Nov. 27, 2021 against Lubbock Christian, when they also made just a single triple.
Kaden Minter had a team-best 22 points for CUI (11-9, 8-6 PacWest) and had the 3-pointer which began the Golden Eagles' 18-3 run during a six-minute span which helped them open a 22-9 lead with 11 minutes left in the first half.
Down by 16 with 2:44 left, CUH finally got some breaks, forcing three Concordia turnovers and turned them into seven points, including a three-point play by
Kris King. MacDonald's layup with just under a minute left got the 'Swords to within 72-64 but that would be as close as they got.
Chaminade shot 40 percent from the floor and was 15-of-20 at the free throw line while out-rebounding the Golden Eagles, 43-to-39. However, the 'Swords, among the conference leaders in turnovers forced and assists, created just 10 turnovers and had only four assists for the second straight outing.
Concordia had a 43.8 field goal percentage, hit eight triples and was 16-of-26 at the charity stripe.
The Silverswords will look to salvage a game on their road trip Monday at Biola which handed them their only home loss this season. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Hawai'i time.
