HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University had its three-game winning streak snapped on Monday night as Concordia Irvine pulled away for a 67-58 PacWest Conference win at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (9-11, 7-7) closed the Eagles (15-6, 9-3) 12-point second half lead to one at 56-55 with six minutes to play, but it was as close as HPU would get as CUI closed on an 11-3 run.
 
The Sharks were led by senior Ronald Blain of McDonough, Ga./Union Grove who posted 15 points in 17 minutes, while sophomore Jacob Foy of Newcastle, Australia/St. Francis Xavier posted 12 points and freshman Lachlan Viney of Melbourne, Australia/Mazenod pitched in 11 points with five assists. Junior Tavon Tarpley of McLean, Va./Langley led the game with 10 rebounds for HPU.
 
Jamel White scored 15 points to pace the Eagles, while Kyle Gray added 14 points and Robert McCoy 12 points. Kayle Knuckles grabbed seven boards to lead CUI.
 
HPU was held to just 37 percent shooting from the floor (21-of-57), including 5-of-19 (26 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Sharks hit 11-of-17 (65 percent) free throw attempts. CUI shot 44 percent (22-of-50) from the field, with 4-of-14 (29 percent) from the arc. The Eagles made 19-of-28 (68 percent) from the charity stripe. HPU outrebounded Concordia 37-35, and suffered 16 turnovers to the Eagles 15.
 
The Sharks opened the game strong, using a Tarpley layup to key a 10-4 run that was capped by a layup from junior Chidoze Ndu of Lagos, Nigeria/Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.). HPU made it a seven-point lead when Blain buried a 3-pointer with 13:39 left in the first half for a 13-6 advantage. The teams swapped scores before CUI went on a 13-0 run opened by a Gray 3-pointer as CUI went up 21-15. The Sharks chipped back to retake the lead on a Tarpley layup, only to have the Eagles spark a 5-0 run to close the half with a 31-28 lead.
 
The Eagles started the second half with a 11-3 run to extend the lead they wouldn't relinquish to 11, and pushed the advantage to 12 points with 9:28 to go on a White jumper. The Sharks weren't through, however. Foy nailed back-to-back three-pointers, one that completed a four-point play, followed by a pair of Viney layups for a 9-0 run and HPU cut the lead to one at 54-53 with 6:32 to play. CUI hit 3-of-6 free throws in the ensuing possessions to grab a four-point lead before Viney followed with two foul shots to make it a two-point 57-55 contest with 3:56 remaining.
 
The Sharks, who were in foul trouble in the second half, continued their offenses and the Eagles made them pay by hitting six straight free throws. Senior Neema Namdar of Sandy, Utah/Alta hit a 3-ponter with 1:01 to go, but that was HPU's last score. CUI added two more free throws and a layup by White to hold on to the 67-58 win.
 
HPU puts a lid on a three games-in-five days homestand on Wednesday night. The Sharks welcome Academy of Art to The Shark Tank for a 6:30 p.m. scheduled tip that follows the women's game between the schools.