Tribune-Herald
Tribune-Herald
After a busy stretch that included four losses in eight days, the University of Hawaii at Hilo men’s basketball team has some downtime.
Pablo Coro scored 18 points Saturday night and Robbie Mitchell added 16 points and nine rebounds as BYU-Hawaii controlled the boards and pulled away for a 80-62 victory at UHH Gym that kept the Vulcans winless in the Pacific West Conference.
“We were trying to get in there, but we need to do a better job of that,” Vuls coach GE Coleman said of the 44-28 rebounding disparity, including 21 on the offensive end by the Seasiders.
Brandon Thomas scored 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting for the Vulcans (3-7, 0-4), who aren’t scheduled to play again until a Jan. 2 home game against Dixie State.
“Not the ideal situation,” Coleman said.
Darnell Williams scored 13 points but was just 5 of 15 from the field for UHH and Derek Owens had 12. The Vulcans were more competitive than they were during a 99-79 loss to BYU-Hawaii in Laie, Oahu, a week earlier, however, UHH shot 33 percent in the second half after trailing by only three at the break.
A pair of free throws by Thomas tied the game at 40-40 a minute into the second half, but Coro hit a 3-pointer as BYU-Hawaii (3-3, 2-0) responded with a 10-2 run. Luke Aston hit a jumper midway through the second half to give the Seasiders a double-digit lead they would not relinquish.
DeAndre Medlock posted 15 points and six rebounds and Aston had 10 points and eight boards for the Seasiders, who shot 44.6 percent.
UHH shot only 39 percent, but got to the free-throw line, making 17 of 24.
“In the preseason, we really focused on attacking, especially with the rule change, we’re looked to getting to the free throw line,” Coleman said.
UHH women 80, BYU-Hawaii 53: Kirstie Williams scored 13 points and Thea Hanato-Smith had 12 and the Lady Vulcans never trailed en route to their first league victory.
Williams has provided instant offense since being inserted into the lineup, averaging 11 points in the past three games. The junior guard from Lincoln, Calif., was 3 of 5 from 3-point range and made all four of her free throws.
Alexa Jacobs added 11 points and six assists and Haley Reynolds had 10 points and six rebounds for UHH (2-3, 1-2), which shot 46.6 percent.
“We did some good things,” coach David Kaneshiro said. “We shot it pretty good, shared the ball and when we got the lead we stayed disciplined.”
Danna Lynn Hooper had 19 points for the Seasiders (0-6, 0-1), who made only 15 of 52 from the field.