HILO, Hawai`i—Some say it's not how you start, but how you finish. But sometimes your start has a whole heck of a lot to do with your final margin.

That was the case for the Hawai`i Hilo men's basketball team on Monday night when they dismantled Dominican early on their way to a 78-41 victory at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

The victory was the third in a row for the Vulcans in conference play, improving their Pacific West Conference ledger to 3-2. They are now 4-6 overall, while Dominican dropped to 2-3 in league action and 3-8 on the year.

UHH had four players in double figures, led by Brian Ishola's 19 points and 13 rebounds—his third double-double in his last four games. Ryley Callaghan also nearly had a double-double, with 14 points and nine assists.

"Our guys were very disappointed after the Seattle Pacific loss," said head coach GE Coleman, whose team dropped a non-conference war with the Falcons on Friday, 72-66. "We really came to play tonight. We defended well and concentrated on the game plan."

The Vulcans began on a pace as torrid as you will see in any basketball game on the planet. They hit 16 of their first 18 shots, including five-of-five from three-point range. Callaghan led the way with a perfect 5-for-5 beginning with five assists and two treys. In the first four and a half minutes, UHH was 8-for-9 from the field, which included a dunk from Randan Berinobis off a beautiful feed from Callaghan.

After ten minutes of play, the home team led 32-17. It also took them that long before they committed a turnover.

The Vulcans closed the half on a 7-0 run to go into the locker room with a 48-22 lead, easily their biggest opening 20 minutes of the year. They shot 64 percent from the field, hit 5-of-6 three's and held a 22-11 rebound edge.

They used defense in the second half to seal the Penguins fate, holding Dominican to 19 points, while putting up a pedestrian (in comparison) 30 counters of their own.

Parker Farris had 16 points to add to the deluge, while Darius Johnson-Wilson contributed 10. Berinobis pulled down 11 boards and had seven points, and Eric Wattree put up eight points, four assists and four rebounds.

The Vulcans out-rebounded Dominican 41-22, and shot 62 percent from the field.

Ryo Tawatari was the only player in double figures for the Penguins with 11.

"We won't always shoot 62 percent, but we can always defend," Coleman added. "I thought we did that very well tonight. On offense, we spaced the floor and made the extra pass."

The Vuls will take a 12-day break from action over the holidays before hosting Northwest Indian on Thursday, Dec. 29 at the Civic in a non-conference game.

"It's always great for the guys to get time with their families over the break," the coach said. "But I am already anxious to get back on the practice floor, we have a lot to work on."