LA MIRADA, California – Charles Elzie III split two defenders and dropped in the game-tying layup with just seconds remaining but soon watched Biola's Nathan Medina hit a buzzer-beating game-winning shot on the other end of the court as the Hawai'i Hilo Men's Basketball team fell to the Eagles, 75-73, Saturday night in Pacific West Conference action at the Chase Gymnasium.
Coming out of a timeout with 18 seconds left in regulation, Kalique Mitchell dove and corralled his own lost ball before tossing it to Elzie on the recovery for the banked layup to make it 73-73 on the scoreboard.
After receiving the ball at midcourt with time ticking down, Medina drove through the left side of the court before stopping just outside the paint, spinning back, pump-faking up and then stepping under through two Vulcans defenders to get a bank shot to go in just before the buzzer.
Biola's last-second score stunted a big second-half rally from the Vulcans, who trailed by as much as double digits after five minutes of play through the beginning of the second period.
Mitchell poured in 13 of his 17 total points during the second-half tug of war as Carlos Ramsey Jr. also matched with 17 points.
The two teams last met in the First Round of last season's PacWest Conference Tournament with the Eagles managing to pull out the win.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to a 9-4 overall record (3-1 PacWest) while Biola moved to 4-1 in conference play (9-4 overall).
The Vulcans continue on in Southern California through the new calendar year taking on Concordia University Irvine (Jan. 2), Azusa Pacific (Jan. 4) and Point Loma (Jan. 6).
Hawai'i Hilo will return to the Big Island to host Dominican (Jan. 11) and Academy of Art (Jan. 15).
Biola and Hawai'i Hilo will meet again Feb. 8 at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
AMONG THE BEST IN THE WEST
In the latest D2CSC Division II Week 6 Media Poll released Dec. 18, Hawai'i Hilo came in at No. 5 in the West Region.
Saint Martin's (ranked No. 4 in the national poll) came in at the top spot followed by Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State East Bay.
PacWest Conference mates Point Loma and HPU also landed in the region's top 10 at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively.
SEASON TICKETS
Single-game and season tickets are now available to be purchased online through Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans Athletics' recently launched online ticket platform in partnership with AudienceView Campus.
The 2023-24 slate will feature 28 total home contests at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium with a package price of $130 for adults and $65 for seniors (ages 65-plus) and middle/high school students.
Both can be accessed at HiloAthletics.com/tickets.
VIDEO STREAM PACKAGES
The Hawai'i Hilo Men's Basketball team will have 14 home games available to be viewed online through our video stream broadcasts in partnership with Out of the Sea Media Arts Inc.
Single-game viewing will be priced at $10 with a season-package offering of $105.
More information is available at HiloAthletics.com/LiveStream.
