That’s a wrap for UH-Hilo’s men’s basketball team, which took the admirable way out.
Knowing full well they had just been eliminated from postseason consideration Saturday, the Kupaa Harrison and the Vulcans finished on a high note anyway, surging past Hawaii Pacific 65-61 in Honolulu.
Earlier in the day, Academy of Art beat Notre Dame de Namur 67-60 to clinch the final Pacific West Conference playoff berth. Each of the past two seasons, UHH (12-14, 10-12) entered the final day of the regular season holding out hopes of qualifying for the PacWest tourney for the first time. The Vuls snapped a three-game losing streak, finishing with the same record as last season.
“It’s disappointing for sure,” coach GE Coleman said. “I feel bad for our seniors, who have been so close now twice. But also, credit to them (Harrison and Kaleb Gilmore) for fighting through and ending their careers with a win.”
Harrison scored 20 points with seven rebounds in his final game and he and Gilmore, a fellow Kalaheo (Oahu) alum, carried the way late.
A basket by the Sharks’ Neema Nadmar tied the game for the eighth time at 59-59 with 1:51 remaining, but Harrison hit a go-ahead shot and after the HPU missed two 3-pointers, Gilmore drove for a fastbreak layup for a two-possession lead. The Sharks’ Ronald Blain (24 points, 12 rebounds) made it 63-61, but Harrison iced the game with a shot in the paint with 6 seconds remaining.
Junior guard Elisha Duplechan came through with 20 points, six rebounds and six assists for UHH, which could have used this result last Saturday, when it lost at home to the Sharks (10-18, 8-14).
This time, the Vuls fared better on the boards, only getting outrebounded 41-33, won the turnover battle, 15-9, and shot a higher percentage, 41.94%.
UHH was dealt an early blow when senior guard Jordan Graves was lost an injury eight games in the season. The program hasn’t had a winning season since 2011.
•Women
No. 3 HPU 91, UHH 57: Starr Rivera led four players in double figures with 24 points as the Sharks put the finishing touches on a perfect PacWest regular season.
Allie Navarette finished her standout junior season with 15 points for UHH (10-16, 9-13). Mandi Kawaha had 13 points and four assists, and Jessica Goodluck grabbed seven rebounds.
The Vuls finished in seventh on the conference and saw their postseason drought extended to six seasons.