With a chance to rise near the top of the Pacific West Conference, the shots didn’t drop for UH-Hilo.
With a chance to rise near the top of the Pacific West Conference, the shots didn’t drop for UH-Hilo.
Academy of Art didn’t bring a very impressive record to Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, but its defense is bona fide, and the Urban Knights stifled the Vulcans 74-64 on Friday night, sending them back out on the road with suppressed momentum.
UHH (4-8, 3-2 PacWest) never led and it was hard to play catch up thanks to 17 percent accuracy from 3-point range, where it continues to be feast or famine.
Playing inside, only 6-foot-7 junior transfer Devin Johnson was immune to the shooting woes, scoring a season-high 23 points with 10 rebounds.
On the perimeter, Ryley Callaghan (12 points) and Trey Ingram (10) shot a combined 6 of 24.
Academy of Art (5-9, 4-4), ranked second in the conference in defense, led 42-40 at halftime and went right to work in the second half with a 13-3 run.
Denhym Brooke (11 points, nine rebounds) and Johnson helped the Vulcans stay within range, with Johnson’s layup cutting the deficit to 62-59 with 4:41 remaining, but Zuri Williams responded with a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer and Kendall Brown scored six of his team-high 15 points during the final two minutes.
The Vulcans have a week off before beginning a four-game Northern California road trip Jan. 13 at Fresno Pacific.
