Posted on: Sunday, January 11, 2004

UH-Hilo knocks off Chaminade

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Hawai'i-Hilo men's basketball team ended six seasons of frustration at Chaminade this week by sweeping the Silverswords in two games.

Ryan Abrahams scored a game-high 27 points and Joe Travis added 19 as the Vulcans handed the host Silverswords a 91-77 Pacific West Conference loss last night at McCabe Gym.

Before this week, UH-Hilo coach Jeff Law had been 0-7 at Chaminade's McCabe Gym since he took over the program in 1998.

"I was going to be happy with a split in October when I looked at the schedule," Law said. "Coming in here and getting two wins, I'm very proud of the guys."

UH Hilo defeated the Silverswords, 56-52, at McCabe on Thursday.

Last night, the Vulcans (10-2, 2-0) led by as many as 15 points in the first half and 17 in the second half against the Silverswords (2-9, 0-2).

"Winning two on the road is difficult," Abrahams said. "And Chaminade is a team that's hungry. But it's conference time, you can't let go."

UH-Hilo outrebounded the smaller Silverswords 40-27, and outscored them 16-8 in the key. Chaminade held an edge in free-throw attempts, but failed to capitalize going 33 of 47 from the line. UH-Hilo shot 33 of 43 from the line.

"We're not a good basketball team right now," Chaminade coach Aaron Griess said. "We don't have any confidence, we don't have any continuity, we're not playing together, and at times we're not playing hard. We're not going to win too many games in this league if we don't start playing hard consistently."

• Brigham Young-Hawai'i 91, Montana State-Billings 90: Jake Chrisman hit the go-ahead jumper with six seconds left as the host Seasiders fended off the Yellowjackets to remain undefeated in the Pacific West Conference.

Chrisman scored a game-high 30 points and led three teammates in double figures. BYUH (13-2, 3-0) led by as many as 10 points in the first half and 13 in the second half, but could not shake Montana State-Billings (7-4, 1-2) which took a 58-57 lead in the second half.

• Hawai'i Pacific 78, Western New Mexico 71: Aaron Abrams scored a team-high 22 points and the host Sea Warriors rallied in the second half to defeat the Mustangs in a PacWest game.

HPU (5-9, 2-1) overcame 13 3-pointers by Western New Mexico (3-10, 0-3) and a game-high 31 points by Jason Jackson.