Tribune-Herald
Tribune-Herald
Where does the University of Hawaii at Hilo men’s basketball team go from here?
That’s an easy question for coach GE Coleman. He’s heading back to work ahead of a road trip to Northern California later this month.
“It’s tough, it’s humbling,” Coleman said Monday after the Vulcans lost to Point Loma 87-73 at UHH Gym. “I told the kids we’ve got to keep fighting. This is part of life. Everything isn’t going to go you way.”
Playing three teams with winning records, the Vulcans (3-10, 0-7 Pacific West Conference) were competitive in patches during their recently completed homestand, but they’re staring at an eight-game losing streak in Coleman’s inaugural season.
“The kids don’t want more victories and I don’t want moral victories,” Coleman said. “We’re going to get there. This program is going to get to where it needs to be.”
UHH were consistent in stretches Monday night after Point Loma worked the ball inside to get easy looks in the first half. The Sea Lions shot 19 of 32 in the first half and finished at 53.7 percent for the game.
Hayden Lescault scored 31 points for the Sea Lions (9-4, 4-3), who led by 10 at the half and increased the advantage to 15 midway through the second half. Sparked by Yevgeniy Dyachenko and Lucas Swanson, UHH whittled the lead down to two, and UHH it even had chance to take a lead when Joey Rodriguez missed a 3-pointer with 6:51 left.
Dyachenko scored 14 points and Joey Rodriguez and Darnell Williams each had 13 for UHH, which shot 39 percent and was outrebounded 42-29.
The Vulcans don’t play again until Jan. 18, when they opens a four-game road trip at Notre Dame de Namur.
“This team just needs a little confidence,” Coleman said. “We’re playing the proper way. Now we just have to execute a little better.”