Hawai’i Hilo Men’s Basketball Falls to HPU

HILO, Hawai’i – Hawai’i Hilo Men’s basketball fell to HPU, 88-75, Thursday night in Pacific West Conference play at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

The Vulcans had one of their better offensive shooting performances of the season, shooting .431 from the field. However,the Sharks shot even better at a .517 rate,including .519 (14-27 3PT) from beyond the arc – marking the second season in a row that HPU saved its best perimeter shooting for against Hawai’i Hilo.

HPU shot .571 in the opening half to take a 16-point lead into the break. The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with the Sharks promptly answering the Vulcans after five of the home team’s made baskets. Hawai’i Hilo continued to fight, sparking an 8-0 run (baskets by Dre Nobles, Brody Davis, and Julio Montes II) to make it a three-point game with just over seven minutes remaining.

After a few baskets traded cut the deficit to just two points, HPU managed to pull away and outscored the Vulcans, 21-10, the rest of the way.

GAME NOTES