Missing another key cog, UH-Hilo again wasn’t able to get gear.
Playing without leading scorer Ryley Callaghan, the Vulcans were outgunned by Montana State-Billings on Sunday night, losing 81-63 at the Hoops in Hawaii Holiday Classic at Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.
It was the second loss for UHH (3-6) in as many nights in Honolulu and the defeats have come by a combined 47 points with a barrage of 3-pointers one of the primary culprits.
“With Ryley out, we are missing a lot of points,” coach GE Coleman said in a release. “But we have to figure things out. We haven’t played well either of the last two nights and we have one more chance to turn things around before the (Christmas) break.”
Callaghan, a senior guard who averages 15.9 points and shoots better than 44 percent from 3-point range, sat out with an undisclosed injury after scoring five points Saturday in a 101-72 loss at Chaminade.
The Vulcans, who play Tampa at 8 p.m. Monday, shot only 2 of 14 on 3-pointers against Montana State-Billings (7-5), which made 12 3s and shot 56.6 percent overall.
Denyhm Brooke led the Vulcans with 18 points, hitting 7-of-9 shots from the field to go along with six rebounds and three blocks. Devin Johnson added 11 points and eight boards, while Trey Ingram and Randan Berinobis contributed nine points apiece.
UHH is also missing a key inside piece in Brian Ishola, who decided to redshirt after fighting a hamstring injury.
The Yellowjackets of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference used an early 9-0 run to gain breathing room, led by 10 at the half, and then they caught fire, hitting nine of their first 10 3-point attempts in the second half.
Kendall Denham led five Yellowjackets players in double figures with 17 points.
On Saturday night, Chaminade put six players in double figures and made 13 3-pointers to drop the Vulcans to 2-1 in Pacific West Conference play.
“Chaminade is as talented a team as you will see in this conference,” Coleman said in a release. “If you let them get going, they will make you pay.”
Erik Scheive, a 6-foot-10 post player, led Chaminade (6-4, 2-2) with 18 points and made four 3-pointers, and Austin Pope finished just an assist shy of a triple-double (13 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists).
Trey Ingram led the Vulcans with 19 points and Johnson added 11.
The Silverswords, who beat the Pac-12 Cal at the Maui Invitational in November, pulled away with a 14-0 run and led 50-31 at the half.
