FRESNO, California – Hawai'i Hilo Men's Basketball fell to Fresno Pacific, 89-80, Monday afternoon in Pacific West Conference play at the Special Events Center.

The two teams traded leads through the early parts of the contest until FPU managed to break away from a 23-all score near the eight-minute mark of the opening half. Fresno Pacific led the rest of the way, but the Vulcans remained within striking distance and got the deficit to just four points late in the second half.

While Hawai'i Hilo shot .583 from the field in the final minutes of action, FPU was just unfazed at the free throw line and converted 13 of 14 attempts to maintain the lead.

Hawai'i Hilo was also unbothered at the charity stripe, shooting a perfect 16 of 16 to put together the second-best outing in a single game in program history — topping a 14-of-14 performance in the 1978-79 season against Corban.

GAMES NOTES

• Julio Montes II: 20 Points (8-15 FG), 4 Steals
• Dre Nobles: 14 Points (2-2 3PT), 6 Rebounds, 3 Assists
• Charles Higby Jr.: 11 Points (5-5 FG, 1-1 3PT), 2 Rebound, 1 Assist, 1 Steal
• Brody Davis: 10 Points (6-6 FT), 6 Rebounds
• Alex Horiuk: 10 Points (4-5 FG)
• Hawai'i Hilo: 1-10 Overall (1-4 PacWest)
  • Preseason Coaches Poll No. T2
• Fresno Pacific: 4-8 Overall (3-3 PacWest)
  • Preseason Coaches Poll No. T2

UP NEXT

• Thursday, Jan. 8 (5:30 PM) vs Dominican (San Rafael, CA)
• Saturday, Jan. 10 (NOON) vs Menlo (Atherton, CA)
• Thursday, Jan. 15 (7 PM) vs Dominican (Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)

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.