SALEM, Ore. — Hawai'i Pacific University built a 17-point second half lead, then had to hold to on as they defeated the NAIA's Corban (Ore.) 81-73 Monday night at the Jeffers Sports Center.
 
The Sharks (2-1) continued their season opening road trip with a win, while the Warriors (1-2) of the NAIA's Cascade Collegiate Conference played the game as an exhibition contest..
 
"I was proud of our effort tonight," said HPU Head Coach Darren Vorderbruegge. "It was our third game in four days with lots of travel, but we had energy. We've still got to gear up for one more tomorrow."
 
The Sharks shot 44 percent from the floor, including 32 percent (8-of-25) from the 3-point arc, while hitting 77 percent (13-of-17) from the foul line.  The Warriors shot 45 percent from the floor, but only 22 percent (6-of-27) from the 3-point arc, to go with connecting on 54 percent (7-of-13) from the free throw line. HPU won the boards 45-38, but suffered 19 turnovers that allowed 11 points. Corban posted 17 turnovers that the Sharks capitalized for 22 points.
 
Once again, the Sharks were led by senior forward Niksha Federico of San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic with 26 points to go with seven rebounds. Junior forward Jonathan Janssen of Noosa Heads, Australia/Mountain Creek, double-doubled with 18 points and 10 boards with a blocked shot and Hawai'i senior transfer Larry Lewis added 15 points and eight rebounds with three steals.
 
The Warriors were led by AJ Monterossi with 22 points, with Jake Love adding 13 points and Chris Martin 10 points and four assists. Christian Drayton just missed a double-double with nine points and 13 rebounds to go with four blocks.
 
The Warriors jumped out to an early four point lead before the Sharks answered with the teams swapping the lead. Corban held a 17-15 advantage when Janssen buried a 3-pointer with 12:17 to play in the half to take the lead for good and start a 13-2 run for a 28-19 lead with 8:23 to go after a jumper from senior Albert Christensson of Lund, Sweden/South Kent Prep.
 
HPU added an 11-0 run and closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 46-33 lead into halftime.
 
The Sharks opened the lead to 17 at 52-35 with 17:35 to play on a layup by junior Spencer Vering of San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic, but that was the high-water mark for HPU.
 
The Warriors sliced the lead to 15 points, then went on a 13-1 run over a five-and-a half minute stretch and pulled to within three at 58-55 on a jumper by Caleb Dozier with 9:26 to play.
 
Federico downed a 3-pointer to stop the bleeding and start a 10-2 run by the Sharks to restore the HPU cushion.
 
The Sharks pushed the lead back to 13 points in the last four minutes, before the Warriors cut the lead to six on a jumper from Monterossi with 1:04 to play. Redshirt freshman David Rowlands of Dayton, Ohio/Moorpark swished two free throws with 14 seconds to play sealed the contest for the Sharks at 81-73.
 
HPU has one more game on their season opening road trip on Tuesday evening, as they visit Eugene, Ore., to face New Hope Christian. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. HST (5 p.m. PST) at Cordeiro Court.