HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Men's Basketball officially opened the season by hosting the PacWest-GNAC Crossover this past weekend at the Vulcan Gymnasium, falling in both efforts against Montana State Billings and Saint Martin's.

Westmont was the other member of the four-school event as the teams from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference managed to go a combined 4-0 over the weekend.

HAWAI'I HILO 64, MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 81 (NOV. 14)

• After just a one-point separation at halftime, both teams went in opposite directions offensively as the Vulcans shot .360 from the field against .529 from the Yellowjackets.
• Hawai'i Hilo Free Throws: 9-17 (.529)
• Second Chance Points: MSUB 32 - UHH 7
• Jamal Entezami led the team with 15 points. Brody Davis (4-4 FG, 7 Rebounds) and Julio Montes II (4 3PT) followed with 12 points each
• Starters: Entezami, Davis, Montes II, Isaiah Hinds, Alex Horiuk

HAWAI'I HILO 68, SAINT MARTIN'S 70 (NOV. 15)

• It was a slow burn for a Vulcans team that shot 50 percent from the field against just .323 by the Saints, but SMU managed to make it to the charity stripe 29 times (.793) while Hawai'i Hilo shot 9 of 16 for free throws.
• Hawai'i Hilo chased as much as 12 points near the midway point of the second half and put together a 9-1 run through the final quarter of action to eventually get to a 64-64 ballgame. SMU managed to squeak out a few more points to stay ahead as the Vulcans were able to get a literal last-second opportunity but just couldn't get the shot to land.
• Horiuk led with 16 points (8-11 FG) and six rebounds. Montes II followed with 11 points (3-3 FG, 2-2 3PT, 3-3 FT).
• Hinds exited the match at the 14:18 mark of the second half and did not return.

GAMES NOTES

• Hawai'i Hilo: 0-2 Overall (0-0 PacWest)
• Montana State Billings: 5-0 Overall (0-0 GNAC)
• Saint Martin's: 2-0 Overall (0-0 GNAC)
• The weekend's games were originally scheduled for the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, but inclement weather caused unplayable court conditions. It was the first on-campus home basketball contests since the 2020-21 season during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UP NEXT

• Southwest Airlines Big Island Invitational (Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)
• Saturday, Nov. 22
  • 2 PM: Hawai'i Hilo vs Cal State Dominguez Hills
  • 4 PM: Colorado Colorado Springs vs Cal Poly Pomona
• Sunday, Nov. 23
  • NOON: Colorado Colorado Springs vs Cal State Dominguez Hills
  • 2 PM: Hawai'i Hilo vs Cal Poly Pomona
• Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros
  • Carson, California
  • California Collegiate Athletic Association
  • 2024-25 Record: 30-6 Overall (20-2 CCAA)
  • 2024-25 Finish: CCAA Champions, NCAA West Regional Champions, NCAA National Championship Runner-Up
• Cal Poly Pomona Broncos
  • Pomona, California
  • California Collegiate Athletic Association
  • 2024-25 Record: 18-11 Overall (13-9 CCAA)
  • 2024-25 Finish: CCAA Tournament Quarterfinals
• Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Mountain Lions
  • Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
  • 2024-25 Record: 17-12 Overall (11-9 RMAC)
  • 2024-25 Finish: RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals

PACWEST PRESEASON POLL

Hawai'i Hilo was voted No. 2 in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, tying with Fresno Pacific. The Vulcans finished the 2024-25 regular season in a three-way tie at No. 4 in the conference standings and was one of six teams to qualify for the PacWest Conference Championships postseason tournament, falling to defending champ Point Loma in the semifinal round. The 2025-26 PacWest Championships will be hosted by PLNU on March 5-7 in San Diego.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Season and individual tickets for the Vulcans' 16 home matches at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium are available for purchase at HiloAthletics.com/tickets. Season tickets are $135 ($70 for seniors 65+ and middle/high school students) and also includes admission to an additional 13 Vulcans Women's Basketball home events.

BUY LIVESTREAM PACKAGE

Video livestreaming will be available for all home events this season through the PacWest Network, powered by Hudl TV. More information is available at HiloAthletics.com/livestream. Single-game passes are offered at $15 with a season-package price of $180.