HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University battled PacWest Conference leading Biola but could not quite get over the hump as Biola claimed a 90-82 victory on Thursday at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (3-8, 0-5) kept the game close until the Eagles (10-2, 4-1) pulled away in the second half.
 
The Sharks were led by senior Rodney Hounshell of Richmond, Va./West Linn (Ore.) who collected 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Sophomore Jakob Kimura of Honolulu/Punahou added 14 points with seven boards.
 
The Eagles Chris Rossow posted the fourth-best scoring effort in the PacWest this season with 32 points, including 10-of-14 free throws to go with 10 field goals. Alex Wright turned in 22 points with a team-leading six rebounds, while Kevin Stone added 12 points.
 
The Sharks shot 46 percent (24-of-52) from the floor, including 9-of-22 (41 percent) from the 3-point arc. HPU made 25-of-35 (71 percent) of its free throws. Biola hit 49 percent (32-of-66) from the field, with 5-of-13 (39 percent) from the arc. The Eagles made 16-of-22 (73 percent) from the foul line. Biola pulled down 35 rebounds to the Sharks 33, and suffered seven turnovers to HPU's 12.
 
HPU stayed neck-and-neck with Biola early, holding a 3-point lead at 9-6 with 16:07 to play in the opening half. After swapping the lead back and forth, Wright nailed a 3-pointer to start a 18-5 run and the Eagles never trailed again.
 
The Sharks responded with a 12-4 run to cut the lead to two at 36-34 on a Kimura layup with 2:34 to go in the half, only to see the Eagles get a 3-pointer against a free throw to close the half with Biola leading 39-35.
 
Kimura's three to start the second half got HPU to within one, and after exchanging scores with the Eagles, the Sharks pulled within two points three times and kept the game within four until midway through the half. That's when the Eagles went on a 12-2 run to take away any remaining HPU momentum.
 
The Sharks closed near the end, with Hounshell hitting the last layup to end the contest with Biola leading 90-82.
 
HPU is scheduled to play again next Thursday, Jan. 13, when they host Dominican (Calif.). Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. following the women's game at 4:30 p.m. at The Shark Tank.