HONOLULU — Hawai'i Pacific University let an eight-point halftime lead slip away and made a valiant comeback attempt but couldn't overcome Adams State (Colo.) 82-80 in the Hoops In Hawai'i Thanksgiving Classic Saturday afternoon at the Moanalua High School Gym.
 
The Sharks (3-3) saw the Grizzlies (2-4) go on a 11-1 run to take the lead in the first two minutes of the second half, followed by a 12-2 run to claim a double-digit lead as Brandon Sly posted a triple-double for ASU.
 
"I wish we would have played the whole game the way we played the last seven minutes," said HPU head coach Darren Vorderbruegge. "We just dug ourselves a hole we couldn't climb out of."
 
The Sharks had a sub-par second half from the floor, that sent their field goal percentage for the game down to 39 percent (26-66), and that included shooting a respectable 43 percent (13-of-30) from the 3-point arc. The Sharks hit just 15-of-22 from the foul line (68 percent). Adams State shot 61 percent in the second half to finish at 54 percent (31-of-57), with 9-of-21 (43 percent) from the arc. The Grizzlies made 11-of-16 from the charity stripe (69 percent). The Grizzlies did something no one had done this season, beat the Sharks on the boards with 39 rebounds to 35. HPU had a season low with just seven turnovers, compared to ASU's 13.
 
Senior forward Niksha Federico of San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic, scored a season-high 30 points with 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double in six games to lead the Sharks. Junior forward Jonathan Janssen of Noosa Heads, Australia/Mountain Creek, added 21 points for HPU with seven rebounds and a blocked shot. Junior forward Spencer Vering of San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei Catholic posted eight points with six rebounds.
 
As the second leading scorer for the Grizzlies, Sly collected 18 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists with a blocked shots. Shane Johnson led Adams State in scoring with 26 points, going 6-of-6 from the 3-point arc, while Frederick Jackson double-doubled with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jarrett Givins added a dozen points.
 
It was 3-pointers by Givens and Johnson that keyed the 11-1 run to overtake the Sharks. HPU answered with jumpers from Janssen and senior Albert Christensson to tie the game at 46-all with 17:16 to play, but ASU was able to stretch out swapping scores to a 50-49 lead with 14:55 to go.
 
But the Grizzlies got a pair of treys from Johnson to start a 13-2 run and built an 11-point lead.
 
HPU was down 76-66 with 5:27 to play when the Sharks got a comeback started on a 3-pointer by Federico and a layup from Christensson to start a 9-2 run and pull within three at 78-75 with 1:59 remaining. ASU held off the Sharks who would close to within two in the closing seconds on Vering's layup, but could get no closer.
 
HPU had overcome an early deficit and held a nine-point lead in the first half after a Janssen 3-ball, and enjoyed a 41-33 advantage at intermission.
 
The Sharks start PacWest Conference play on Thursday when league newcomer Biola comes to Honolulu. The game at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena tips at 6:30 p.m., following the women's game between the Eagles and Sharks.