IRVINE, California – Carlos Ramsey Jr. drove down the left side and hit a tough one-on-one layup with one second to go as the Hawai'i Hilo Men's Basketball team sank Concordia University Irvine, 53-51, Tuesday night in Pacific West Conference play at the CU Arena.
The Vulcans maintained the lead for the majority of the evening and seemed to be pulling away with a 7-0 run through the latter parts of the second half. However, CUI managed to bring the score right back with a 10-2 run through the last five minutes of play. Hawai'i Hilo came up empty on a fourth-chance opportunity as CUI's Kobe Sanders managed to tie the score at 51 down the other end of the court with 23.5 seconds remaining.
Coming out of a timeout, the Vulcans put the ball in Ramsey Jr.'s hands as he milked the clock down before slicing his way past CUI's Jackson Tucker for the game-winning score. CUI's ensuing inbounded play was overthrown as Hawai'i Hilo prevailed to open the 2024 calendar year.
Ramsey Jr. led the Vulcans with 15 points as Kalique Mitchell put up 11 points and 14 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
ELZIE III HITS 1,000
Tuesday's victory was a big response to falling short on the other end of a buzzer-beater defeat to Biola just days prior.
Charles Elzie III came up with the late-game heroics to split two defenders down the lane to tie the game with seven seconds to go before the Vulcans fell on the other end of the court on a last-second shot.
Against CUI, Elzie III took the opening tip-off and nailed a mid-range jumper for the first score of the game while reaching a personal milestone of 1,000 career points.
The Tacoma, Washington native played his first four seasons of college ball at The College of Idaho in the NAIA, putting up 878 points and culminating with winning the 2022-23 NAIA National Championship and the NAIA Chuck Taylor MVP award.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to a 10-4 overall record (4-1 PacWest) while Concordia University Irvine moved to 4-2 in conference play (7-5 overall). The two teams will meet again Feb. 10 at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Vulcans continue on in Southern California taking on 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).
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.
