There would be no encore performance for UH-Hilo’s men’s basketball team.
Concordia’s Brian Chambers dished out a school-record 16 assists to go with 13 points to help lead the second-place Eagles to a 98-81 win over the Vulcans on Saturday night in Irvine, Calif.
Defeating the top two teams in the Pacific West Conference within 48 hours proved to be too tall a task for the Vulcans (11-11, 9-9 PacWest), who upset No. 8 Point Loma on Thursday night.
Larry Bush scored 26 points to lead the Vulcans, two nights after scoring 27 at Point Loma.
In a battle between two of the top defensive teams in the PacWest, offense had its way.
Concordia shot 61 percent from the field and the Vulcans converted 55 percent of their shots, but they couldn’t duplicate the pristine ball-control they showed in only turning the ball over four times against Point Loma, giving the ball away 24 times against the Eagles (19-8, 15-3), who owned a 35-18 rebounding advantage to overcome 23 turnovers.
UHH is a game ahead of Academy of Art for the sixth and final spot in the PacWest tournament. The Urban Knights (8-10) host Holy Names (11-8) on Sunday, while the Vuls continue their road trip Tuesday at Biola.
Bush and Denhym Brooke hit shots right after halftime to bring UHH to within 50-46 game, but Cameron English went to work inside, scoring eight points on four consecutive possessions to push Concordia’s lead back to 12 points.
Bush went 9 for 9 at the free throw line, James Griffin added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists and Kupaa Harrison had 11 points, five rebounds and four assists before fouling out. Brooke was also in doubles figures with 11 points.