IRVINE, Calif.—Hot second half shooting from the field and the free throw line helped host Concordia hold off a game Hawai`i Hilo squad on Saturday night at the CU Arena, 96-85.

Concordia, the Pacific West Conference preseason favorite, improved to 7-3 on the season and to 1-0 in conference play. The Vulcans are now 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the PacWest.

The Eagles never trailed in the game, although the Vulcans pulled to within two points halfway through the second half (66-64) on a pair of Jalen Thompson free throws. UH Hilo was still within five points with six minutes after another Thompson basket (74-69), but Concordia didn't miss much after that.

Concordia shot 59 percent from the field in the game, including 62% in the second half. They hit five three-pointers after the break. Portland State transfer Robert McCoy missed just two shots on his way to 19 points and seven rebounds.

The Vulcans were led by post Sasa Vuksanovic's 20 points, ten rebounds and three assists. Five UH Hilo players were in double figures. Kupaa Harrison had 15 points, 11 boards and three assists. Jordan Graves added 13 points, Thompson had 13 (5-of-7 from field) and Elisha Duplechan added 11 off the bench.

The Eagles led the entire first half, running out to a 7-0 lead and never trailing on the scoreboard after that. The Vulcans only hit one of their first 10 shots, a driving lay-up by Damani Whitlock.

But in a battle of defensive-minded clubs, the Vulcans were able to battle back in a low-scoring first half. Tom Powers free throws at 11:30 made it a four-point game (11-7). Later, after the Eagles had stretched their lead to ten points, UHH came back again, this time pulling to within four points on a pair of free throws by Duplechan (35-31) with 2:40 left before the half.

Concordia scored the last five points of the half to put the count at 40-31 at the break. The Vulcans shot just 33 percent in the first 20 minutes, while the Eagles converted 56 percent of their shots.

The pace of the game changed in the second half. The Eagles came out on fire from behind the arch, hitting three in the first four minutes, building a 14-point lead (51-37). But with 13 minutes left, the Vulcans put together a 10-3 run, pulling to within three on a Graves trey (59-56) and again on Thompson's basket with 12 minutes left (61-58).

UHH was down only seven with five minutes left, but Concordia then went on a 8-2 run and the Vulcans couldn't get closer than ten points after that.

Concordia scored 56 second-half points, to UHH's 54.

The Vulcans continue their three-game southern California trip with a Tuesday match-up at Biola. Start time in La Mirada will be 7:30 p.m. Pacific time.