SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – Hawai'i Hilo Men's Basketball ended a five-game road trip with losses to Biola, 67-65, and Concordia, 69-51, in Pacific West Conference play.
The Vulcans went 2-3 on the road slate through Southern California and will have their five remaining regular season games back in Hawai'i — four of them at home in Hilo.
Hawai'i Hilo will have zero room for error in hopes of making it a fifth consecutive season of qualifying for the six-team PacWest Championships postseason tournament.
GAME NOTES
- Feb. 5 vs Biola
- The Vulcans ended the first half on a 14-5 run through the final five minutes of play and started the second half with an 11-point advantage, but Biola managed to go on a 27-7 scoring spurt through the 11-minute mark.
- Dre Nobles hit a 3-pointer with 1:18 remaining to bring the score within two points at a 67-65 deficit.
- Biola went 0 of 1 and missed its lone free throw attempt through the final minute, but Hawai'i Hilo also came up empty on two shot attempts as the Eagles held on for the win.
- Julio Montes II and Nobles both totaled 17 points apiece as the latter collected 14 rebounds for a double-double.
- Feb. 7 vs Concordia
- Just two points separated the teams at halftime, but CUI managed to shoot nearly 60 percent in the second half in draining 16 field goals with seven 3-pointers.
- Hawai'i Hilo finished 1 of 12 (.083) from beyond the arc.
- Montes II scored 15 points as Alex Horiuk totaled a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 5-18 Overall (5-12 PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. T2
- Current Standing: No. 11
- Biola: 11-11 Overall (7-9 PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 5
- Current Standing: No. T7
- Concordia: 14-9 Overall (11-6 PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 6
- Current Standing: No. 3
UP NEXT
- Thursday, Feb. 12 (7 PM) vs Jessup (Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)
- Saturday, Feb. 14 (7 PM) vs Point Loma (Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)
- Tuesday, Feb. 17 (7 PM) vs Fresno Pacific (Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)
- Thursday, Feb. 19 (7:30 PM) vs Chaminade (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
- Saturday, Feb. 21 (7 PM) vs Azusa Pacific (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 six-team 2025-26 PacWest Championships will be hosted by Point Loma on March 5-7 in San Diego.