That No. 19 national ranking was fun for a while, but the UH-Hilo basketball team can kiss that goodbye after a loss to Concordia, which won despite resembling Shaquille O’Neal at the free throw line.
The Eagles had a pair of critical 11-0 runs to defeat the Vulcans 72-66 in a PacWest game on Friday night before 511 fans at Hilo Civic, where Concordia did a good job of impersonating Shaq, hitting just 15 of 26 free throws or 58%.
The Vulcans (4-4, 0-1 PacWest) have lost three straight, falling earlier to Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks, a pair of West Region opponents. It’s early in the season, but UHH damaged its chances of receiving an at-large bid to the postseason with the West Region rankings.
The PacWest, CCAA, and GNAC conference champions earn automatic qualifiers to the eight-team NCAA Division II West Regional. The other five at-large teams are determined by the West Region poll.
Milwaukee freshman Donald McHenry continues to shine as UHH’s breakout player. The 6-foot-1 left-hander scored 17 points on 8 of 12 shooting, including 1 of 2 from 3-point range. He’s still going through the freshmen blues; he went 0 for 2 from the free throw line and committed seven turnovers and had just one assist. He also missed one dunk attempt, but slammed home a second attempt.
UHH had 13 assists and 17 turnovers; Concordia had nine assists and 12 turnovers and outscored the Vuls on points off turnovers, 25-15.
“Concordia’s tough, a different type of team that we’ve played so far,” UHH coach Kaniela Aiona said. “They did a good job at finishing at the basket and made just enough free throws to pull it out. We have to do a better job of not finding ourselves down double-digits, first half and second half. But I liked the battle of our guys. The fought down to the very end, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
UHH’s double-double threat Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones added 16 points on 6 of 14 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds, had four assists and three turnovers, and three blocks. Ethan Jetter added nine points, and Darren Williams had eight points for the Vulcans, who shot 46% from the field, including 4 of 13 from 3-point land.
Wayne Arnold scored 18 points on 6 of 15 shooting, Patrick McCobb added 16 points, and Jalen Sanders had 11 points to lead the Eagles (5-4, 2-1), who converted 48% from the floor, including 5 of 19 from long distance.
Arnold, a 6-foot-3 junior guard, entered the game with a 26.9 points per game average for the Eagles, who were picked sixth in the preseason poll, a spot behind the Vulcans. He was a tough cover for the 5-8 Williams and McHenry. Arnold would launch off-the-dribble jumpers over Williams and McHenry.
In the first half, Josh Caston had two baskets and McCobb scored in the paint during Concordia’s 11-0 run that pushed the lead to 21-10.
Arnold drained a 3-ball with less than three minutes and dropped in a layup to give the Eagles a 37-30 halftime lead.
The Eagles had another 11-0 run midway in the second half that pushed their lead to 61-46. McCobb scored in the paint, hit a 3-pointer, and capped the run with a layup when UHH’s help-side defense took a coffee break.
With 20 seconds left, UHH made it entertaining when Williams sank two free throws to cut Concordia’s lead to 68-66.
Kayle Knuckles was fouled but hit 1 of 2 free throws for a 69-66 lead with 18.9 seconds remaining.
Williams missed a 3-point attempt, Knuckles was fouled and suddenly turned into Steph Curry (90% free throw shooter) and sank 2 of 2 free throws for a 71-66 lead with 3.0 seconds left. Knuckles made 3 of 5 free throws.
UHH’s help-side defense wasn’t always on the ball. Early in the first half, Matt Weyand, a 6-5 forward, backed down 6-6 Jamie Strong in the paint. Weyand got close to the rim, the help-side defense was a no-show, and Weyand got an easy bucket for a 32-21 Concordia lead.
Weyand was a rare grounded Eagle. The rest of his Eagle teammates soared to the rim, a reason for their 48% shooting and 26 trips to the free throw line. UHH made 10 of 14 free throws and not enough shots.
UHH next hosts preseason No. 1 pick Point Loma at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Hilo Civic.
