HONOLULU – After playing close through the first half, Hawai'i Pacific University saw Hawai'i Hilo come out of halftime with a 20-4 run that led UH Hilo to a 67-47 PacWest Conference win Saturday afternoon at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (0-3, 0-3) led a five-point first half lead slip to a four-point deficit at the half before the Vulcans (4-1, 4-1) exploded to start the second and cruse to the win.
 
HPU got eight points each from senior David Rowlands of Dayton, Ohio/Moorpark, sophomore Lachlan Viney of Melbourne, Australia/Mazenod and senior Chidozie Ndu of Lagos, Nigeria/Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.). Sophomore Colton Martin of Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Sharks.
 
UH Hilo placed four players in double-digit scoring, led by the 20-point, 10-rebound double-double of Sasa Vuksanovic. Aniwaniwa Tait Jones added 15 points with seven boards, while Darren Williams collected 14 points and Jordan Graves 12.
 
HPU shot 38 percent (20-of-53) from the field, but hit 5-of-18 (28 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Sharks converted only 2-of-8 (25 percent) from the foul line. UHH made 26-of-59 (44 percent) from the floor, including 5-of-18 (28 percent) from the arc. The Vulcans made 10-of-16 (63 percent) from the charity stripe. The Sharks claimed the boards against the Vulcans 41-34.
 
However, the story of the game was in turnovers. HPU suffered 29 giveaways allowing 32 Vulcan points. UH Hilo turn it over 16 times with the Sharks scoring only nine points.
 
HPU opened the game with the first five points on a 3-pointer by senior David Rowlands of Dayton, Ohio/Moorpark and a fast-break layup from junior Rodney Hounshell of Richmond, Va./West Linn (Ore.). The Vulcans responded as the teams exchanged the lead seven times with three ties in the half.
 
After losing the lead midway through the first half, the Sharks rallied to pull within two at 33-31 with 52 seconds remaining in the half on a layup by Viney. But a foul on the other end of the floor allowe Vuksanovic to hit two free throws to put the Vulcans up 35-31 at the half.
 
The teams exchanged scores to start the second half when UH Hilo turned up their press defense and began a 16-0 run that became a 20-4 expanse to give the Vulcans a 53-35 advantage and a double-digit lead they wouldn't relinquish. The Vulcans pushed their lead to 22 before settling for the 67-47 win.
 
The two teams face each other for the fourth time on Sunday at The Shark Tank. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m.