HONOLULU — The University of Hawaii at Hilo men’s basketball drained 50.8 percent from the field to continue its efficient shooting trend as the Vulcans defeated Chaminade, 82-63, Saturday afternoon in Pacific West Conference action at the McCabe Gymnasium.
Jake Kosakowski splashed five 3-pointers (.455) and finished with a game-high 17 points as he continued to heat up in just his fourth contest of action after missing the first five games of the season. The senior hit a pair of early long-range shots through the first 10 minutes of action to help the Vulcans get going. All other shooters from either side were a combined 0 of 12 from beyond the arc. Hawai’i Hilo led from start to finish for all of 39:19 of the game. Pace picked up late in the opening half as the Silverswords managed to make seven straight baskets to bring the score within two points with just over two minutes remaining, but the Vulcans closed out going 3 for 3 on buckets by John Davis III (finished with 11 points) and Julio Montes II (10 points) to push the lead back to seven points at the break.
The Vulcans came out hot in the second half to outscore the ‘Swords, 14-3, through the opening five minutes. After going a combined 0 of 5 in the first half, Nadjrick Peat and Isaiah Hinds combined to go 7 for 8 from the field (Hinds: 7-8 FT) to finish with 10 and 12 points, respectively. Peat collected six blocks for the second time this season, tying the school record for single-game blocks with the season-opening win over Simon Fraser and Tre Johnson’s Jan. 2015 performance against Fresno Pacific.
The senior from Jamaica also tallied 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and ninth of his career.
Hawai’i Hilo moved to 1-1 in the PacWest (5-4 overall) as Chaminade moved to an 0-1 conference record (5-2 overall).
Other notes
• The Vulcans have now won seven consecutive contests against Chaminade, taking 11 of the last 12 matchups dating back to Jan. 31, 2021.
• Hawai’i Hilo has shot over 50.0 percent from the field in three of the last four contests — shot .462 against Adelphi (Nov. 29).
• Three total scorers finished with 17 points: Kosakowski and Chaminade’s Kris King and Amound Anderson.
• Both teams were cold in the early goings with scoring droughts of 2:53 and 1:52 as both teams combined to go 0 of 16 from the field.
• Heading into the weekend, Montes II was ranked No. 3 in all of Division II with a .588 three-point shooting percentage. Peat was ranked No. 7 and No. 8 for total blocks and blocks per game, respectively, and Andre Norris was tabbed at No. 17 for total steals and No. 18 steals per game.
Up next: 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Nobel (Hilo / Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)
