HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University saw Alaska Anchorage go on a 9-0 run midway through the second half to flip the game as UA Anchorage rallied for an 83-79 win in the PacWest/GNAC Challenge on Friday afternoon at McCabe Gymnasium.
 
The Sharks (0-1) dropped their official season opener, while the Seawolves (3-0) picked up their third straight.
 
"It was a tough way to open the season," said HPU head coach Darren Vorderbruegge. "I'm disappointed we let the lead slip away, but we played hard and gave ourselves a chance at the end. We just need to stay together as a team."
 
The Sharks were paced by PacWest Preseason Player of the Year, senior Jonathan Janssen of Noosa Heads, Australia/Mountain Creek, who scored 21 points with four rebounds, three assists and a blocked shot. Newcomer Neema Namda, a junior from Sandy, Utah/Alta via Utah State Eastern, was 5-of-10 from the 3-point arc for 15 points. Senior Darnell Bettis of Los Angeles/University added 11 points and a team-highs of six rebounds and four assists. Newcomer Ronald Blain, a junior from McDonough, Ga./Union Grove, also scored 11 points, while senior Spencer Vering of San Diego/Mater Dei added 10 points.
 
The Seawolves got 28 points from Niko Bevens, who drained 8-of-13 from the 3-point arc. Bevens had 25 points at the half. Jack MacDonald scored 15 points, while Tyler Brimhall added 11 points with seven rebounds and Brian Pearson 10 points with a game-leading eight boards.
 
The Sharks shot 46 percent from the floor (29-of-63), but connected on 41 percent in the second half. HPU was 9-of-30 (30 percent) from the 3-point arc and 12-of-18 (67 percent) from the foul line. UAA shot 57 percent from the floor (30-of-53), but 17-of-26 (65 percent) in the second half. The Seawolves hit 50 percent (13-of-26) from the arc and 10-of-15 (67 percent) from the free throw line. HPU outrebounded UAA 31-30 and suffered fewer turnovers (10) than the Seawolves (15).
 
Alaska Anchorage grabbed the early lead going up by six on a Bevins 3-pointer with 10:10 in the first. The Sharks rallied with back-to-back 3's from Janssen and Namdar to tie the game, then swapped scores as the game tied at 25. HPU followed with an 11-3 run capped by a Bettis jumper for their largest lead of the game, eight points, at 36-28 with 4:56 left in the first. HPU went on to a seven-point 45-38 lead at the half.
 
The Sharks held on to a six point lead through the first seven-and-a half minutes of the second half, with Vering putting HPU up 61-55 with 12:32 to play. That's when UAA held the Sharks scoreless for four-and-a half minutes and went on a 9-0 run to take the lead on a jumper from Pearson and adding a pair of free throws from MacDonald for a 64-61 lead.
 
The Seawolves opened up their advantage to eight at 80-72 with 2:29 left on a MacDonald jumper. HPU answered with a Bettis jumper and a Blain 3-pointer to pull within three late, but could not draw closer. A free throw by UAA's Brennan Rymer with 3.0 seconds left iced the game as the Seawolves finalized the score 83-79.
 
It's a quick turnaround for the Sharks, as they face Alaska on Saturday in day two of PacWest/GNAC Challenge at McCabe Gym. Tipoff is slated for Noon.