HILO, Hawai'i – In a matchup between the two remaining unbeaten teams through the early part of the Pacific West Conference season, it was the Vulcans who got the short end of the stick in falling to Point Loma Nazarene, 83-73, Tuesday night at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
After 20 minutes of play, the two teams started over with a 37-37 score at halftime and went back and forth through eight second-half lead changes to reach the six-minute mark with the Vulcans out front by a mere point.
Two-time reigning PacWest Player of the Year Kaden Johnson followed shortly by finishing tough in the lane for the three-point play to give the Sea Lions the ninth and final lead change of the half.
With three minutes to go, Kalique Mitchell cut the deficit to just four points after getting a quick tip-in basket off a rebounded free-throw attempt then followed up by forcing back-to-back turnovers, but the Vulcans couldn't get their shots to land on either attempt.
The Sea Lions, who were ranked No. 21 in the latest D2SIDA Media Poll, sank seven free throws as part of their effort to seal up the win.
Hawai'i Hilo came in ranked No. 5 in the latest D2SIDA West Region Media Poll. PLNU was No. 2 as (nationally ranked No. 7) Cal State San Bernardino took the top spot.
By The Numbers
- Carlos Ramsey Jr. scored a season-high 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting to go along with six rebounds.
- Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones followed with 17 points and nine rebounds along with Darren Williams' 15 points.
- After taking the final lead at the 5:51 mark of the second half, PLNU proceeded to go 4 of 4 from the field and 10 for 13 at the free throw line while Hawai'i Hilo shot 3 of 10 on field goals (0 for 4 from downtown) and 1 of 4 at the charity stripe.
- PLNU averaged 30.9 three-point attempts entering Tuesday's game. It finished shooting 7 of 24 from beyond the arc after having started the game at a 1-for-7 mark. Five different players made a 3-pointer.
- Hawai'i Hilo went 4 for 16 for its second-lowest output of the season — its lowest number of 3-pointers was two against Colorado-Colorado Springs in the Vulcans only other loss.
- The Sea Lions finished with a 9-15 edge for turnovers.
- Kaden Anderson led PLNU with 26 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Luke Haupt followed with 16 points.
What's Next
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 8-2 overall (4-1 PacWest) as Point Loma Nazarene moved to a 12-3 record (7-0 PacWest).
The Vulcans will be back in action Saturday, Jan. 7 for a hoops doubleheader against Concordia University Irvine (4-8 overall, 3-4 PacWest). The women will tip off at 5 p.m. followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m. in the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Sea Lions will travel to O'ahu to play HPU on Thursday followed by Chaminade on Saturday.
Hawai'i Hilo and PLNU will match up again Feb. 23 in San Diego, California for both teams' regular season finale.
