Honolulu, HI (December 31, 2012) – The Hawaii Pacific men's basketball team (3-5) manhandled visiting Champion Baptist College (3-16) to the tune of a 109-51 victory to close the non-conference schedule. Five Sea Warriors registered double figures, paced by Marko Cukic and Leif Rodney who each had 18 points.

HPU controlled this game from the opening tip; the Sea Warriors led 6-0. By the 16:01 mark of the first half, HPU took a ten-point lead at 12-2 on a Malte Ziegenhagen three-pointer, HPU would not look back. The Green and Blue were again deadly from deep, hitting 8-10 (80%) three-pointers in the first half, including a three from Michael Pierce to put HPU up 55-23 at the half.

The Sea Warriors continued to add to the lead in the second half and end up with a 58 point win. It was a total team effort with all healthy Sea Warriors seeing a minimum of 13 minutes of playing time.

"We had a good effort today. Champion Baptist is from a different level than we normally play, but they are well coached and competed hard. I thought we stayed focused throughout and hopefully will use this win as a springboard into conference play this Saturday,” said head coach Darren Vorderbruegge.   

HPU came into the game ranked fifth in the country in three-point field goal percentage at 44%, HPU upped that figure by shooting 66.7% (8-12). The starting backcourt of Ziegenhagen and Jelany White connected on 5-6. Remarkably, HPU shot better from beyond the arc then it did from two-point range (65.2%, 43-66) and from the foul line (55%, 11-20). The defense held the Tigers to 38.8% (19-49) from the floor and 33.3% (6-13) from three-point range.

Jason Jordan had his best game as a Sea Warrior with 17 points on 8-10 shooting to go with a team-high eight rebounds. Jelany White had another good all around game with 13 points, five rebounds and a team season-high nine assists.  Ziegenhagen scored 11 points. However, the highlight of the night was a Blake Griffinesque one handed power jam from a step and a half inside the foul line, by Jeffery Neal, that sent the HPU bench and the crowd into a frenzy.  
 
HPU will now play exclusively PacWest games, beginning with Academy of Art on January 5th at 5 PM at the Neal Blaisdell Center.


Box Score