ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Hawai'i Pacific battled wire-to-wire in a hard-fought 70–65 road setback to Alaska Anchorage on Saturday night, showing resilience, balanced scoring, and stretches of impressive two-way basketball during the opening night of the Alaska/Hawaii Challenge.

The Sharks came out strong, shooting 37.5% in the first half and knocking down four threes to take a 30–28 lead into the locker room. HPU's defensive pressure set the tone early, forcing nine first-half Seawolf turnovers and turning them into six fast-break points.

Quentin Meza paced the Sharks with 14 points, hitting four threes on the night and providing key buckets to keep HPU within striking distance late. Josh West continued to shine on both ends, adding 13 points, three steals, and a team-high four assists. Nemanja Sarenac delivered a spark off the bench with 11 points, including three made threes, while Avi Halpert added valuable energy and 7 points.

HPU also showcased elite composure at the line, finishing 18–21 (86%) on free throws. Quinton McCullough anchored the interior with 10 made free throws and a team-high nine rebounds, helping the Sharks win key possessions throughout a tightly contested second half.

After trailing by as many as 11, the Sharks mounted an impressive push in the final minutes. Meza's late drive cut the deficit to one, 66–65, with 27 seconds left, and HPU had multiple chances in the closing moments before UAA sealed the game at the line.

Despite the narrow loss, the Sharks displayed depth, determination, and strong two-way effort—turning in 9 made threes, 20 paint points, and holding UAA to just 36.7% shooting.

HPU returns to action tomorrow in Anchorage, looking to build on a gritty season-opening performance and carry the momentum of several standout efforts as they take on Alaska Fairbanks at 1 p.m. HST.