BYUH defeats HPU, 78-64

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

When Tony Sellitto looks back on his highly successful coaching career, he'll probably like to forget his final home game.

Try as he might, Tony Sellitto could not pull off a victory in his home finale as Hawai'i Pacific basketball coach. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Once the game started, he could only watch as a sharpshooting BYU-Hawai'i team beat his Sea Warriors, 78-64.

It would have been nice for Sellitto to win his home finale, but the plan was foiled by BYU-Hawai'i's Alexus Foyle, who scored 21 points, and Keli'i Naihe, who added 16.

"I'm not disappointed," Sellitto said. "I thought BYU shot the ball extremely well. They shot 61 percent in the first half. I'm not sure what they shot for the game, but they shot extremely well."

Montana State-Billings now leads the Pacific West Conference at 9-5. Hawai'i Pacific, Chaminade and BYU-Hawai'i are tied for second at 8-5.

The Seasiders (17-9) made 28 of 55 field-goal attempts, including 15 of 22 in the first 16 minutes of the game.

"In the last two away games we shot like 20 percent and it's hard to understand because we're such good shooters," BYU-Hawai'i coach Ken Wagner said. "I expect this type of effort more than I would the other."

The Sea Warriors (17-8) took a 12-5 lead 4:45 into the game by hitting four of their first seven 3-point attempts.

Then it was all downhill for HPU.

Foyle scored six points during a 9-0 run that gave the Seasiders a 14-12 lead with 11:05 left in the half.

"He played a good game," Sellitto said of Foyle. "Looked like every field goal he shot went in."

Foyle normally starts, but he was benched by Wagner after showing up late to a recent practice.

"The coach said at a certain time I'm supposed to be at practice," Foyle said. "I showed up late so the principle is not to start because I was late for practice."

The Seasiders took their largest lead of the half at 39-20 with four minutes left following a 19-1 run. During the four-minute surge, Naihe hit three 3-pointers, and Foyle added six points.

"Kelii came out and set the tone for us and gave us some confidence," Foyle said.

HPU made 5 of 25 field-goal attempts over the final 15 minutes of the half, and trailed 39-20 at halftime.

BYU-Hawai'i opened its largest lead at 52-29 after a lay-in by Naihe 3:30 into the second half.

Sellitto is 294-136 at HPU, which makes him the most successful college basketball coach in Hawai'i history. He also coached 23 years at Maryknoll School and won a state title in 1984.

Sellitto, 64, thanked everyone for their support in a short speech before the game.

"I thought it was great," Sellitto said of the ceremony. "I appreciated it a lot. I got a lot of leis and the people really showed their kindness, so I was really happy with that."

Sellitto will coach his final two regular-season games at Hilo on Friday and Saturday.

BYU-Hawai'i will play at Chaminade the same nights.