HONOLULU — The Vulcans were tasked with facing a tough combo of rebounding and perimeter shooting by the Sharks as Hawai’i Hilo Men’s Basketball fell to HPU, 88-71, Thursday evening in both teams’ Pacific West Conference season-opening contest at The Shark Tank.
The Sharks managed to hit 14 3-pointers while outrebounding the Vulcans at an astounding 39-14 margin (-25) — 15-4 on the offensive boards. The .519 three-point shooting rate was the highest allowed by the Vulcans so far this season, and the 14 total treys are the most given up since allowing 16 to Chaminade back in Dec. 2018.
Despite the final result, Hawai’i Hilo finished with a higher percentage on outside attempts at 52.9 percent on 9-of-17 shooting while posting an overall .510 from the field.
Nadjrick Peat led the Vulcans with 14 points (6-8 FG), seven rebounds and two blocks. Jake Kosakowski followed with 12 points (two 3-pointers) and Julio Montes II with 11 points (3-3 3PT). Isaiah Hinds also finished with double-digit scoring figures at 10 points.
HPU managed nine first-half 3-pointers to help take a 15-point lead into halftime and cooled off to hit just five 3-pointers (.333) in the final 20 minutes. The Sharks managed to build up as large of a lead as 27 points at the halfway point of the second half, but a 14-4 run by the Vulcans over the next five minutes helped Hawai’i Hilo creep back into contention at a 17-point deficit.
Hawai’i Hilo moved to 4-4 overall (0-1 PacWest) as HPU moved to a 5-4 record (1-0 PacWest).
Other notes
• HPU had 13 second-chance opportunities, converting on nine of them (.690) for 21 points. Hawai’i Hilo had just three chances, converting for four points (.666).
• The Vulcans were credited with just five turnovers, the lowest number since a Feb. 2022 matchup with Chaminade.
• Hawai’i Hilo went 12 of 21 (.571) at the free throw line while HPU managed to go a perfect 10 for 10 — the first time an opponent has shot 1.000 at the charity stripe since Chaminade went 3 of 3 in March 2021.
• HPU’s Sherman Brashear led all scorers with 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting with five 3-pointers and six free throws.
• The game was televised live on Spectrum Sports Hawaii, a first for a Division-II matchup involving two Hawai’i teams.
Up next: 1 p.m. today vs Chaminade (Honolulu, Hawai’i (O’ahu) / McCabe Gymnasium)
Pacwest Hawai’i Challenge: Thursday’s contest was the first matchup between the three Division II Hawai’i schools for the basketball/winter season. At the close of the recent fall season, Hawai’i Hilo and Chaminade were tied for the lead with nine points as HPU trails behind with seven. More information and breakdown of scoring is available at HiloAthletics.com/PWCHI.
Season Tickets: Season tickets for 31 total Vulcans Basketball home events are now available. Online purchase available at HiloAthletics.com/Tickets.
Video Livestream: Hawai’i Hilo Men’s Basketball video livestream packages are now available for purchase online through the recently-launched PacWest Network, powered by Hudl TV. The 2024-25 season includes 14 total home broadcasts for $157.50. More information at HiloAthletics.com/livestream
