HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Men's Basketball came out on top for a thrilling 73-63 win over Concordia University Irvine on Thursday night in Pacific West Conference action at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

In a game that featured 14 lead changes — nine of them in the second half — the Vulcans put on an offensive clinic through the final 20 minutes, shooting 60.0 percent from the field (15-25 FG) and going nearly perfect at 16 of 17 at the free throw line (21-22 FT overall).

CUI managed to build up a nine-point cushion with as much as eight and a half minutes left on the clock, but it was quickly erased with a 9-0 run from the Vulcans to tie the score at 52-all. After trading a few buckets, Hawai'i Hilo closed out the final two and a half minutes by outscoring the Golden Eagles at a 14-2 rate (10-10 FT) for the victory.

Julio Montes II led with 22 points (9-9 FT) as four other Vulcans finished with double-digit scoring figures — Alex Horiuk (14 points, 7-10 FG), Brody Davis (13 points, 5-5 FT; 8 rebounds, 3 steals), Jamal Entezami (12 points, 4-4 FT; 6 rebounds) and Dre Nobles (10 points; 6 rebounds, 4 steals).

GAME NOTES

• With Hawai'i Hilo holding on to a four-point lead with under a minute to go, Davis came up big on the other end with a shot-stuffing block at the rim to help preserve momentum and the advantage. 
• It was the third game this season the Vulcans reached 20-plus made free throws — 23-26 FT vs Jessup (Jan. 3); 22-23 FT vs Menlo (Jan. 10).
• Vulcans took a season-low nine attempts from beyond the arc (.222).
• CUI's Kaden Minter totaled 30 points on nine 3-pointers.
• Hawai'i Hilo: 2-15 Overall (2-9 PacWest)
  • Preseason Coaches Poll: No. T2
  • Current Standing: No. 13
• Concordia: 9-8 Overall (6-5 PacWest)
  • Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 6
  • Current Standing: No. T5
• It was also Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night as community members from the UH Hilo campus were invited to attend. Select members were recognized at halftime as nominated by Hawai'i Hilo student-athletes.

UP NEXT

• Saturday, Jan. 24 (3 PM) vs Biola (Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)
  • Student Appreciation Day — first come, first serve free T-shirt giveaway
• Thursday, Jan. 29 (5:30 PM) vs Azusa Pacific (Azusa, California)
• Saturday, Jan. 31 (5:30 PM) vs Westmont (Santa Barbara, California)

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 six-team 2025-26 PacWest Championships will be hosted by Point Loma on March 5-7 in San Diego.