Akira Jacobs scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed six rebounds Saturday evening to help Hawai’i hold off Chaminade, 85-80, in men’s college basketball exhibition action at Kamehameha Schools – Maui in Pukalani.
Newcomer Marcus Greene added 16 points and Tanner Christensen chipped in with 13 points and a game-high 17 boards, as the Warriors overcame a 63-62 deficit with nine minutes remaining and withstood a late rally by the Silverswords. Tom Beattie also had 13 points for UH, which scored eight of the game’s final 12 points.
The Warriors led by as much as 50-36 four minutes into the second half, but saw Chaminade chip away and eventually take a 63-62 lead after Jackson Last’s two free throws with 8:56 left. Hawai’i quickly grabbed the lead back, and eventually pushed it to 74-65 after two free throws by Jacobs with 6:23 still to go. The Silverswords clawed back and drew to within one point (77-76) on Amound Anderson’s layup with 2:54 showing on the clock.
But Christensen answered with a dunk to give the Warriors some breathing room, and his free throw with 33 ticks remaining effectively sealed the victory by pushing the lead to 85-78.
UH outscored Chaminade, 40-18, on points in the paint but committed 27 turnovers compared to the Silverswords’ 10. Te Warriors also missed 14 free throws (24 for 38) and shot 63.2 percent from the line.