It might be too late for stretch run heroics, but don’t tell that to the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Brian Ishola after a 92-81 victory over BYU-Hawaii, completing a sweep of the Oahu school in its final season of competition in the Pacific West Conference.
More importantly for the Vulcans (8-14, 6-10 in PWC) the result gave them some hope of a miracle finish that could possibly lift them into a conference tournament berth after they fell one game short last year with a 9-11 record.
The Seasiders fell to 5-16 and 3-13 in the conference.
This was game that could have gone the other way without the uncontrollable effort of Ishola, the junior transfer from North Dakota State who dominated at both ends of the floor and finished with 24 points and 19 rebounds, yet another double-double and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
“We have struggled on the glass lately and rebounding was a big emphasis the last couple of practices,” Ishola said. “I just tried to do as much as I could.”
Not so long ago after UHH lost four consecutive game on its home floor, it appeared all but out of the playoff picture, but at the time coach GE Coleman said he believed in the team, respected its resiliency and thought it could do the near impossible.
Is that still that case?
“Why not?” Coleman said, struggling physically through a battle with bronchitis, “they found a way tonight, that’s what we have to do the rest of the season.
“I guess we’ll find out Thursday,” he said, “we got one of the best in the league coming in, we have to find a way again.”
Thursday’s game will be Senior Night, the last home game of the season against Dixie State, (16-6, 13-3 in PWC) which lost 70-59 at home Saturday to Cal Baptist.
The Vulcans struggled early, gave up too man y easy baskets but caught up in the second half and once they got the lead they didn’t give it back.
After leading 40-36 at the half, BYU-Hawaii nudged its lead to 51-41 in the first four minutes of the second half until the Vulcans found something of an offensive flow that they had missed in the first half. At the same time, they were able to clog some passing lanes that were wide open in the first half.
In the first 12 minutes of the second half, the shooting percentages did a pivot, and the Vulcans were at 59 percent on 13 of 22, while holding the Seasiders to barely 32 percent (6 of 19).
The comeback started with a three-pointy play by Ishola on a basket and free throw, then he scored again seconds later for a quick five points.
Hawaii Hilo completed a 17-6 run to take a 58-57 lead on a twisting layup down the lane by Anthony Canencia for a 58-57 lead with 10:29 remaining in the game, setting the stage for the finish. It was a significant moment because the Vulcans never trailed the rest of the game.
In the first half, the Vulcans were able to stay in the game thanks to 3-point shooting, and for most of the first 20 minutes, free throw shooting.
Again, the visitors were able to penetrate the UHH defense seemingly at will, which was a major issue Thursday in a 97-92 win in the Vulcans’ gym against Fresno Pacific, which shot 57 percent in the game.
In this one, the Seasiders grabbed a 40-36 lead even though they were outshot from long range and at the line. Early on, UHH was 7-for-7 at the line, but finished 9-12 after Ishola missed three late in the half. It was five 3-pointers, two each from Callaghan (2-for-4) and Farris (2-for-4) that kept Hawaii Hilo in the game.
Much of the half was spent with BYU-Hawaii working the ball inside for short range shots that allowed the visitors to shoot 40 per cent from the floor while the Vulcans were at 37 percent after making just 11 of 30 field goal attempts.
