ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Hawai'i Pacific University opened the season on a sour note as the Sharks fell to host Alaska Anchorage 77-48 at the GNAC-PacWest Challenge on Saturday night at the Alaska Airlines Center.
 
The Sharks (0-1) led only briefly in the contest before the Seawolves (2-0) took over and build a double-digit lead they wouldn't relinquish with four minutes left in the first half.
 
HPU was led by sophomore guard Jacob Foy of Newcastle, Australia/St. Francis Xavier who scored nine points off the bench with two steals. Junior guard David Rowlands of Dayton, Ohio/Moorpark and freshman guard Lachlan Viney of Melbourne, Australia/Mazenod each added seven points. Senior forward Daniel Melifonwu of San Diego, Calif./Lincoln led the Sharks with five rebounds.
 
UAA was paced by Oggie Pantovic with 15 points and seven rebounds with two blocks, while Niko Bevens also collected 15 points with four assists. Tobin Karlberg added 13 points.
 
HPU shot just 33 percent from the floor (16-of-49), that included 6-of-20 (30 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Sharks hit 59 percent (10-of-17) from the foul line. The Seawolves hit 50 percent from the floor (30-of-60), including 12-of-32 (38 percent) from the arc. UAA hit 5-of-8 (63 percent) from the foul line. The Seawolves outrebounded HPU 36-25 and turned the ball over 13 times to the Sharks 18.
 
The Sharks opened the game with a 4-0 lead, but the Seawolves quickly answered with a triple and a jumper to take the 5-4 advantage. A Melifonwu layup put the Sharks up 6-5, but David Riley answered with a layup to give UAA a 7-6 lead and the Seawolves never trailed again.
 
Rowlands pulled the Sharks back within four at 20-16 midway through the first half, only to see the Seawolves go on a 7-0 run. After the Sharks added four points, UAA used a 16-3 run in the last five-and-a half minutes to close the half with a 20-point 43-23 lead.
 
HPU cut the lead to 17 early in the second half, but the Seawolves ripped off a 12-0 run that put the game out of reach just four minutes into the second half.
 
HPU doesn't have long to dwell on the loss as the Sharks face Alaska Fairbanks on Sunday afternoon at 1:15 HST (2:15 AST) at the Alaska Airlines Center.