HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University saw an 11-0 first half run break open a close game as Hawai'I Hilo grabbed an 88-70 PacWest Conference victory Tuesday night at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (3-17, 0-13) kept the contest within three for the first eight minutes before the Vulcans (11-9, 7-6) got the run to go up by double-digits.
 
Junior Trey Chapman of Healdsburg, Calif./Healdsburg paced the way for HPU with 14 points, with senior Rodney Hounshell of Richmond, Va./West Linn (Ore.) adding 12 points. Junior Trey Miller of Mukilteo, Wash./Archbishop Murphy led HPU with a game-high seven rebounds off the bench, and freshman Kordel Ng of Kaneohe, Hawai'i/Kamehameha-Kapalama dished out seven assists.
 
UH Hilo was led by Jamie Strong with seven 3-pointers on the way to 25 points. Donald McHenry scored 20 points and Kameron Ng 16 points. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones collected eight points with a team-leading seven rebounds.
 
The Sharks shot 48 percent from the floor (28-of-59), including 5-of-22 (23 percent) from the 3-point arc. HPU made 9-of-16 free throws (56 percent). The Vulcans hit 50 percent (33-of-66) from the field, with an outstanding 15-of-27 (56 percent) from the arc. UHH also connected on 7-of-11 (64 percent) from the charity stripe. HPU dominated the boards 42-28, but suffered 23 turnovers to the Vulcans 11.
 
UH Hilo jumped out to an 8-0 lead to start the contest, only to see the Sharks get a Hounshell layup to key a 7-0 run of their own, to trail 8-7. The teams swapped scores and HPU trailed 16-13 after a Kordell Ng layup with 12:53 in the half. But the Vulcans got a Strong 3 to start the 11-0 run that extended the lead to 14 points on McHenry's free throws. HPU trimmed the lead to eight on a layup from sophomore Tucker Pellicci of Portland, Ore./Franklin. The Vulcans followed with a 9-2 run and went back up by double-digits to stay. UHH extended the advantage to 49-31 at the half.
 
The Vulcans extended the lead again in the second half on an 11-3 run to put UHH up 71-47 on a Strong 3-pointer at the 12:45 mark, then got the lead to 25 with 5:18 to play before both teams subbed freely. HPU closed on a 13-6 run to make the final 88-70.
 
The Sharks meet crosstown rival Chaminade for the first time this season on Friday when they visit McCabe Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.