HONOLULU —No. 18 Hawai'i Pacific University fell from the ranks of the unbeaten as No. 7 California Baptist overcame a Shark comeback for an 80-70 PacWest triumph Tuesday night at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.
 
The 18th ranked Sharks (12-1, 4-1) saw the third-longest win streak in school history end with their first conference loss of the season. The seventh ranked Lancers (12-1, 4-1) pulled back to a virtual 3-way tie for the early PacWest lead with Dixie State (5-1 PacWest, 8-4 overall) and HPU.
 
The Sharks were held to their lowest scoring output of the season while allowing a season high as well.
 
"We didn't play with enough consistency throughout the game," said HPU head coach Darrin Vorderbruegge. "We did well in spurts, but we must be more consistent to beat a strong, nationally ranked program like CBU."
 
Guard Connor Looney, a 6-2 senior from Palmer, Alaska/Palmer, paced the way for the Sharks with 15 points, four rebounds and two steals. Forward Elliott DeFreitas, a 6-10 senior from Essex, England/County Upper, posted 13 points, while swingman Chauncey Orr a 6-4 graduate student from Bowling Green, Ohio/Bowling Green, was held to season-lows of 12 points and three boards.
 
CBU got 28 points from preseason PacWest Player of the Year Michael Smith, who double-doubled with 10 rebounds. Jordan Heading posted 20 points with Kalidou Diouf adding 12 points.
 
The Sharks shot 45 percent from the field (26-of-58), 35 percent from the 3-point arc (8-of-23), but just 10-of-17 (59 percent) from the free throw line. CBU hit 50 percent from the floor (29-of-58), 33 percent from the arc (7-of-21) and 94 percent (15-of-16) from the line.
 
The Lancers dominated the boards, outrebounding the Sharks 39-27. HPU suffered only 10 turnovers as CBU coughed it up 11 times.
 
After the two teams played close through most of the first half, CBU built a late four-point lead before ripping off a 6-0 run to grab a double-digit lead. The Sharks got a layup from DeFreitas and two free throws by Orr to narrow it to a 43-34 deficit at the half.
 
HPU saw the Lancer lead grow to 16 at 54-38 just four-and-a half minutes into the second half when the Sharks shifted into a new gear.
 
After trimming the CBU lead down to 12, Orr busted a 3-pointer with 11:25 to play to start a 14-1 run over the next three minutes that ended with a triple by Looney to give HPU the lead 60-58 with 8:27 to play.
 
Alas, the lead would be short-lived, as a pair of free throws started an 8-0 CBU run that included a 3-pointer by Casey Norris that gave the Lancers a lead they wouldn't relinquish.  HPU would close it to four at 66-62, but the Lancers closed the final six minutes on a 14-8 run to hold on.
 
Still on the best start to a season in school history, Hawai'i Pacific can't dwell on the loss that long. The Sharks are back on the hardwood in PacWest action on Thursday night when they welcome Azusa Pacific to the Blaisdell Center for a 6:30 tipoff.