HONOLULU — Hawai'i Pacific University came out blazing hot and didn't let up as they rolled through Hawai'i-Hilo 104-78 to open PacWest Conference action Friday night at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.
 
The Sharks (7-0, 1-0) never trailed, opening with a 12-0 run that was extended to a 20-2 opening four minutes to clock the Vulcans (1-5, 1-1).
 
"I was extremely pleased with the way we opened the game," said HPU coach Darrin Vorderbruegge. "We were on fire shooting and it's hard to beat a team that is shooting well. You have to hand it to the guys."
 
The Sharks had five players score in double figures led by senior Jordan Martin, a 5-11 guard from Goodyear, Ariz./Millennium with 25 points, five rebounds and four assists. Guar Connor Looney, a 6-2 senior from Palmer, Alaska/Palmer, scored 18 points with a game-high four steals. Guard Chauncey Orr, a 6-4 graduate student from Bowling Green, Ky./Bowling Green, contributed 13 points with four rebounds, four assists and four steals.
 
Forwards Colfax Nordquist, a 6-3 senior from Elk Grove, Calif./Pleasant Grove and Deven Riley, a 6-3 junior from Wildomar, Calif./Elsinore, came off the bench to score 11 points and 10 points respectively. Nordquist had six rebounds and two blocks as well. Senior Elliott DeFreitas, a 6-10 forward from Essex, England/County Upper, had a game-high seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
 
"Jordan scored well tonight, but I was very pleased with our balance," said Vorderbruegge. "And everybody scored. It was a great night."
 
The Vulcans got 27 points from Parker Farris who also led UHH with six boards. Brian Ishola added 15 points, as Ryley Callaghan posted 10 points.
 
The Sharks shot 51 percent from the floor (36-of-70) and 43 percent from the 3-point arc (12-of-28). HPU hit 20-of-29 from the foul line (69 percent).
 
Hilo hit 44 percent from the floor (28-of-64), but 39 percent from the arc (7-of-18). The Vulcans made 15-of-17 from the free throw line (88 percent). HPU out rebounded UHH by seven, 40-33.
 
After opening the game with the 20-2 run in the first 4:09, the Sharks and Vulcans swapped scores until HPU closed the half on a 24-7 run for a 56-48 lead at intermission.
 
The Sharks were never threatened in the second half, clearing the bench on the way to the 104-78 win.
 
The Sharks grab a win in the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge with the victory, but don't have long to enjoy the win. HPU hosts cross-town rival Chaminade on Sunday afternoon in a key PacWest game at the Blaisdell Center. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. in the big downtown arena.