HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific men's basketball held firm in a tight, physical matchup on Saturday night, edging Concordia Irvine 67–61 at The Shark Tank. With the win, the Sharks improve to 12–5 overall and 8–4 in PacWest play, continuing their strong push through conference competition.
HPU controlled the early tempo, shooting 48% from the field in the first half while converting 9 of 11 free throws to take a narrow 36–34 lead into the break. The Sharks stayed efficient out of halftime, knocking down 50% of their attempts in the second period and maintaining their composure as CUI continued to pressure inside and crash the glass.
Quentin Meza powered the offense from start to finish, putting together one of his most complete outings of the season. The junior guard scored 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, went a perfect 7-for-7 at the line, and pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds in 31 minutes. His late-game scoring kept the Sharks in front as the intensity ramped up.
Josh Niusulu added 12 points, hitting 4-of-7 from the field and chipping in 4 rebounds and 3 assists, while Joshua West provided 11 points, knocking down a three and going 4-for-7 at the stripe. Nemanja Sarenac gave HPU a lift from deep with 10 points, including three three-pointers, and Zane Gaul and Maj Dusanic added important interior minutes.
HPU shot an efficient 48.9% from the floor and 78.9% at the free-throw line, finishing the night with 34 points in the paint and a 13–0 advantage in fast-break scoring. The Sharks also found ways to convert defensive pressure into offense, generating 11 points off turnovers while keeping their own miscues manageable.
Despite CUI's 42.9% shooting from three and four lead changes throughout the contest, HPU's balanced scoring and late execution proved decisive. The Sharks matched the Golden Eagles on the boards 29–29, limited second-half perimeter looks, and closed out key possessions down the stretch to secure the win.
Hawai'i Pacific now turns its attention to the upcoming stretch of PacWest play as the Sharks continue to position themselves near the top of the conference standings.
