With the help of some Division I transfers, the Hawai'i Pacific University men's basketball team has gotten off to a hot start.

The Sea Warriors wrapped up their non-conference schedule last week and boast an 8-3 record — tops among all Pacific West Conference teams. On its current five-game winning streak, HPU has outscored opponents by an average of more than 18 points.

"Hopefully when we jell, we'll be a really good basketball team," Sea Warriors coach Tony Sellitto said. "We're pretty set with our lineup and rotations and I'm pretty happy with it. We have a good mix of size and speed."

HPU's starting lineup features junior Norman Wells (6-8, 250) and senior C.J. Jackson (6-8, 265) in the frontcourt with seniors Jeff Ingram (6-4, 185), Ray Murdock (6-3, 205) and Mike Helton (6-6, 187) at the guard positions.

Sellitto said although his team lacks a "true point guard," each starter can handle the ball, giving the Sea Warriors a "point guard by committee.

"At first we thought it might be a problem, but it's turned out to be a positive thing for us," Sellitto said.

Helton, who started 15 of the 25 games he appeared in last season, and Murdock, who previously attended the University of San Diego, can also play the post positions.

"We're pretty lucky to have Mike Helton," Sellitto said. "He's been playing really well as of late."

"Ray Murdock actually played and started for San Diego when they played Hawai'i at the Stan Sheriff Center a couple of years ago, so he brings a lot of experience," Sellitto added.

The Sea Warriors feature the PacWest's top scorer in Helton (20.2 ppg), top rebounder and shot blocker in Jackson (9.9 rpg, 2.0 bpg) and assists leader in Murdock (6.3 apg).

"C.J. is a big presence for us in the middle," Sellitto said of Jackson, the transfer from Illinois. "When his game is on, he's tough to handle."

Jackson is second on the team in scoring (14.6 ppg) and second in the league in field-goal percentage (.657).

Wells, a transfer from Indiana State, is 10th in the PacWest in scoring (12.8 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (6.4 rpg).

Ingram was selected to the preseason All-PacWest team after he averaged 12.3 points per game as a junior.

HPU leads the PacWest in numerous statistical categories, including scoring margin (+7.8), free-throw percentage (.727), rebounding margin (+2.9), blocked shots (5.5 per game) and assists (18.7 per game).

"A lot of that is a result of our offense moving the ball around well," Sellitto said. "We've been playing well, but you can throw it all out the window come conference time."

HPU opens the PacWest season on the road with three games in six days, beginning with Dominican tonight.

"We're prepared for it," Sellitto said of the weeklong road trip to the chilly Bay Area. "We've played two preseason tournaments and 11 games now, so that really helped us."

The Sea Warriors play at Academy of Art Thursday and at Notre Dame de Namur Saturday.

"This is a big trip because if we come out of it OK, I think we'll be in pretty good shape for the rest of the conference season," said Sellitto, who said he packed gloves, a hat and scarf for the cold weather.

Said Sellitto: "Hell, if we get three wins, I don't care what the weather is outside."

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Hawai'i Pacific forward C.J. Jackson was named Conference Player of the Week by the league office Sunday. Jackson, a senior from Buena Vista, Ga., averaged 17.5 points and 12 rebounds in wins last week over Gustavus Adophus (Minn.) and Chapman (Calif.). Jackson is eighth in the PacWest in scoring at 14.6 points per game and leads the league in rebounding with just under 10 per game.

OVERALL STANDINGS — W — L — WIN. %

HPU — 8 — 3 — .727

BYU-Hawai'i — 6 — 3 — .667

Dixie State — 6 — 3 — .667

UH-Hilo — 6 — 4 — .600

Grand Canyon — 6 — 10 — .375

Chaminade — 3 — 6 — .333

Dominican — 3 — 8 — .273

Notre Dame de Namur — 2 — 9 — .182

Academy of Art — 0 — 10 — .000

Last week's results

Tuesday

Western Washington 81, Dixie State 73

Seattle Pacific 89, Academy of Art 70

Wednesday

Central Washington 96, Academy of Art 61

Cal State East Bay 54, Dominican 50

HPU 70, Chapman 58

UH-Hilo 69, Gustavus Adolphus 50

Friday

Notre Dame de Namur 70, Menlo 69

Saturday

Dixie State 78, Western State 63

Grand Canyon 69, Seattle Pacific 68

Chapman 76, BYU-Hawai'i 70 (OT)

This week's games

Today

HPU at Dominican

UH-Hilo at Academy of Art

Thursday

BYU-Hawai'i at Dixie State

Chaminade at Grand Canyon

HPU at Academy of Art

UH-Hilo at Notre Dame de Namur

Saturday

HPU at Notre Dame de Namur

Chaminade at Dixie State

BYU-Hawai'i at Grand Canyon

UH-Hilo at Dominican

Statistical Leaders

Scoring—Mike Helton (HPU) 20.2; Austin Bryan (DU) 16.9; Bennie Murray (NDNU) 16.2; Virgil Buensuceso (BYUH) 15.4; Justin Smith (UHH) 15.4; Steven Bennett (CU) 15.4; Tom Whitehead (DS) 15.0; C.J. Jackson (HPU) 14.6; Bryan Ngo (UHH) 13.9; Norman Wells (HPU) 12.8; Anthony Reilly (BYUH) 12.8; Donovan Plunkett (DS) 12.3; Shane Hanson (CU) 11.9; Rory Patterson (BYUH) 11.7; Andy Palmer (DS) 11.7; Alex Ward (DU) 11.6; Ray Murdock (HPU) 11.4; Marques Whippy (BYUH) 11.2; Nick Storment (NDNU) 10.2.

FG %—Justin Smith (UHH) .685; C.J. Jackson (HPU) .657; Nick Storment (NDNU) .564; Anthony Reilly (BYUH) .556; Jonathan Burnett (AAU) .554; Marques Whippy (BYUH) .548; Tom Whitehead (DS) .519; Lavell Shipman (UHH) .514; Andy Palmer (DS) .513; Bryan Ngo (UHH) .509.

Rebounds—C.J. Jackson (HPU) 9.9; Chandler Pearson (CU) 8.4; Justin Smith (UHH) 7.9; Marques Whippy (BYUH) 7.7; Bennie Murray (NDNU) 7.0; Zach Robbins (DS) 6.7; Norman Wells (HPU) 6.4; Ray Murdock (HPU) 6.4; Alex Ward (DU) 6.2; Zachary Wilde (UHH) 5.7.

Assists—Ray Murdock (HPU) 6.3; Steven Bennett (CU) 6.2; Xander McNally (DU) 5.8; Adam Ross (DS) 3.9; Andrew Gipson (UHH) 3.6; Jeremiah Barnes (DS) 3.4; Mike Helton (HPU) 3.3; Virgil Buensuceso (BYUH) 3.2; T.J. Benson (GCU) 3.2; Lance Olivier (AAU) 2.8.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Dixie State forward Deanna Daniels was named Conference Player of the Week by the league office Sunday. Daniels, a freshman from Las Vegas, led the Red Storm in a 73-53 win over Mesa State (Colo.) Saturday with 20 points and nine rebounds.

OVERALL STANDINGS — W — L — WIN. %

Grand Canyon — 6 — 5 — .545

HPU — 4 — 4 — .500

Dixie State — 4 — 5 — .444

Academy of Art — 4 — 7 — .364

Notre Dame de Namur — 4 — 7 — .364

BYU-Hawai'i — 3 — 6 — .333

Dominican — 3 — 8 — .273

UH-Hilo — 3 — 8 — .273

Chaminade — 1 — 7 — .200

Last week's results

Tuesday

Seattle Pacific 58, Grand Canyon 53

Cornell College 67, Chaminade 58

Wednesday

Alaska-Anchorage 90, Chaminade 43

West Texas A&M 73, BYU-Hawai'i 57

Thursday

Grand Canyon 64, Metro State 63

West Texas A&M 88, Chaminade 46

Saturday

Central Washington 88, Dominican 69

Dixie State 73, Mesa State 53

This week's games

Today

HPU at Dominican

UH-Hilo at Academy of Art

Thursday

BYU-Hawai'i at Dixie State

Chaminade at Grand Canyon

HPU at Academy of Art

UH-Hilo at Notre Dame de Namur

Saturday

HPU at Notre Dame de Namur

BYU-Hawai'i at Grand Canyon

Chaminade at Dixie State

UH-Hilo at Dominican

Statistical Leaders

Scoring—Samantha Murphy (GCU) 20.5; Alisha Flaaten (DU) 15.6; Hina Kimitete (UHH) 15.2; Sondra Stilwell (AAU) 13.6; Tiffany Wilson (HPU) 12.6; Johnna Brown (DS) 12.4; Laura Zasly (NDNU) 12.2; Mahina Gago (BYUH) 11.9; Richelle Fenenbock (BYUH) 11.9; Genesis Lewis (HPU) 11.4; Kayci Will (CU) 11.4; Jennifer Dreessen 11.2; Jazzmin Awa-Williams (HPU) 10.8; Verity Peets (AAU) 10.5; Mana Hopkins 10.3.

FG %—Deanna Daniels (DS) .560; Johnna Brown (DS) .519; Genesis Lewis (HPU) .500; Jennifer Dreessen (NDNU) .500; Jazzmin Awa-Williams (HPU) .493; Verity Peets (AAU) .471; Kayci Will (CU) .462; Kayce Kirihara (UHH) .453; Sondra Stilwell .437; Tiffany Wilson (HPU) .425.

Rebounds—Jessica Nolan (AAU) 8.4; Genesis Lewis (HPU) 7.0; Jazzmin Awa-Williams (HPU) 6.8; Verity Peets (AAU) 6.7; Laura Zasly (NDNU) 6.5; Johnna Brown (DS) 6.4; Tanya Clark (DS) 6.2; Katie Zasly (NDNU) 6.2; Kayci Will (CU) 5.8; Jennifer Dreessen (NDNU) 5.5.

Assists—Samantha Saito (CU) 4.5; Shareka Purnell (GCU) 4.5; Dara Tompkison (BYUH) 3.8; Sondra Stilwell (AAU) 3.6; Jessica Nolan (AAU) 3.2; Samantha Murphy (GCU) 3.1; Hina Kimitete (UHH) 2.7; Tiffany Wilson (HPU) 2.7; Tammy Brawner (DU) 2.6; Taylor Craig (HPU) 2.6.