HILO, Hawai'i – The Hawai'i Hilo men's basketball team wrapped up play of the November slate in the Big Island Holiday Classic with a 77-72 loss to Colorado-Colorado Springs Wednesday evening at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
With the score all tied up at 57 and nine minutes to go in the game, the Vulcans hit a scoring block as they went one for eight from the field while the Mountain Lions shot four of seven to jump ahead on a 10-3 scoring advantage.
The Vulcans brought the score back down to just a four-point deficit with under 60 seconds to go, but UCCS ultimately made its free throws to extend the game and seal the victory.
Hawai'i Hilo commanded the majority of the first half with the lead intact, but an 8-2 run to end the period and make it a one-point contest propelled Colorado-Colorado Springs to leapfrog the Vulcans in the latter section of the game.
By The Numbers
- Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones led the Vulcans with 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for a double-double.
- Darren Williams finished with 11 points and eight assists.
- Kalique Mitchell scored 16 points off the bench on five-of-eight shooting while going six of eight at the charity stripe and totaling nine rebounds.
- The Vulcans shot two of 18 from beyond the arc, going scoreless in the second half. The Mountain Lions were just five of 18.
- William Becker led UCCS with a double-double on 10-of-13 shooting for 20 points and 11 rebounds.
- Beni Fungula followed with 19 points.
What's Next
Hawai'i Hilo fell to 2-1 overall as Colorado-Colorado Springs improved to 5-0.
The Vulcans will get Pacific West Conference play started with a trip to O'ahu to take on Hawai'i Pacific on Dec. 1 and Chaminade on Dec. 3.
The Mountain Lions will hop over to O'ahu for matchups with No. 8 Central Oklahoma and Hawai'i Pacific this weekend.
