Hilo, Hawaii -- Fresh of a 3-0 performance at the AmeriSports Coconut Coast Classic, the University of Hawaii at Hilo basketball team is back on the court hosting the Hilo Christmas Classic, December 27-30, in the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The field includes Cal State Monterey Bay, Fontbonne College (Mo.) and Cheyney University (Pa.).
One game is scheduled each night at 7:15 p.m. with UH Hilo playing Cal State Monterey Bay on Tuesday, December 27; UH Hilo playing Cheyney on Wednesday, December 28; Cal State Monterey Bay playing Fontbonne on Thursday, December 29; and a rematch of UH Hilo and Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday, December 30.
The CSUMB Otters (3-6) are bringing a big-rebounding, high-scoring team to the islands. Former UHH Athletic Director Bill Trumbo’s squad has out-muscled opponents on the board 39-33 while out scoring them 83.1 to 81.7 points per game.
Senior center Devoghn Lamont carries a huge load averaging 22.9 points per game while pulling in 6.6 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-9 Lamont is the pillar of the Otters tall starting line-up that includes 6-6 Jay Demaestri (16.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg), 6-5 Darryl Anderson (9.4, 4.6) and 6-5 Richard Jenkins (7.8, 7.1).
The Cheyney Wolves (1-4) begin a three-game tour of Hawaii that begins with UH Hilo and continues with games against Brigham Young University-Hawaii and Chaminade University.
Five games into the season, Cheyney Head Coach Cleo Hill, Jr., has yet to set his starting line-up with only 6-1 guard Iren Rainey (11.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg) starting in all the games. They have been winning the board game, 38.8 to 36.0 but have found the scoring difficult as they have been out scored by their opponents 74.6 to 69.0. The Wolves offense depends on their perimeter game producing as 6-3 Sean King (15.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-3 Assad Brown (11.4, 3.6) and Rainey have been the Wolves primary weapons.
Fontbonne (4-6) Head Coach Lee McKinney has had a solid starting rotation from the start that includes a sixth-man. Boards are big to McKinney as his teams holds a 35.9 to 30.9 advantage in that department while trailing opponents in scoring by just .6 ppg (70.4 to 71.0).
Patrick McCoy (6-foot guard, 19.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg), Ryan Kirkpatrick (6-7 center, 11.6, 7.0), Andrew Almany (6-0 guard, 8.0, 2.4), Justin Storandt (6-9 forward, 7.3, 8.2) and Chad Fournie (6-3 guard, 4.7, 2.8) are his starting five with Brian Fogerty (6-4 guard, 10.0, 4.2) coming off the bench.
NOTE: Due to a scheduling conflict, the Hilo Christmas Classic schedule was changed. The original schedule included a doubleheader on Wednesday, December 28 with CSUMB playing Fontbonne at 5 p.m. That game has been moved to 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, December 29. The original game on Thursday between UH Hilo and Fontbonne has been cancelled.
For ticket information, call 974-7702.
