On the home court of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the defense rested. ADVERTISING On the home court of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the defense rested. Both of them, actually, but after six consecutive losses, the Vulcans
On the home court of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, the defense rested.
Both of them, actually, but after six consecutive losses, the Vulcans were less concerned about the points they were giving up than they were with the points they were scoring.
UHH topped its high point effort in the Pacific West Conference Thursday night with a 97-92 victory over Fresno Pacific, thanks in no small part to a season high 13 3-point baskets (of 26 attempts), topping the 12 they had earlier in conference play against Hawaii Pacific.
The win was a third in a row this season in the Vulcans’ gym, but more importantly it ended a six-game losing streak they brought home with them from a trip to the mainland.
Junior guard Ryley Callaghan had his highest scoring game of the season, leading both teams with 29 points, senior Parker Farris had 24, Spencer Krannitz had 26 points for FPU, which lost for the fifth consecutive time.
UHH (7-14, 5-10 in the PWC), shot 51 percent from the floor, but it allowed the Sunbirds 57 percent.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said UHH coach GE Coleman, “we didn’t do a very good job defensively, but we got a win and this was one we don’t win without Ryley.”
At the end, it wasn’t either of the two top scorers who added the finishing touch.
With a 93-90 lead and 18 second left on the clock, Fresno Pacific could Darius Johnson-Wilson who was scoreless at that point, but he converted two free throws to put the game out of reach.
“We got back in it when we decided to guard a little bit,” said FPU coach C.J. Haddock. “Farris and Callaghan got them going early and we couldn’t get back to the point where we were even with them
“Farris is so ought to defend, he moves around, he slips through and gets open and we couldn’t ever get him under control.”
The Sunbirds were playing right with Hawaii Hilo for most of the first half until the Vulcans warmed up offensively, sparked by Callaghan and Farris.
Callaghan, who had two 3-pointers in the first four minutes, took the game over at a point where the Vulcans held a 32-30 lead. He went around smaller defenders for four consecutive layups followed by two Farris free throws and fast break opportunity that Farris threw down for a dunk that gave UHH a 44-30 lead that sent the Sunbirds reeling.
That 12-0 run included eight from Callaghan and four from Farris. While they were doing all the scoring, everyone else was getting the job done defensively.
Fresno Pacific went 4:52 without a field goal and by the time it put one in the Vulcans were off and running.
It was one of the biggest first half offensive burst of the season. The Vulcans were 18 of 32 for a 56 percent effort from the floor, not the 64 percentage shooting they had in a first half win over Dominican in December, but it was a burst that blew this game open.
Farris went 6-for-7 , including 4-for-5 from beyond the 3-point line to close out the half with 20 points. Callaghan made 7 of his 10 attempts and scored twice from beyond the arc for 17 points.
