HONOLULU – The Hawaii Pacific University men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 71-70 loss to Minot State on Saturday evening at McCabe Gymnasium, despite building an 18-point advantage early in the second half. The Sharks (1-1) held a 42-31 lead at halftime, but the Beavers rallied in the final 20 minutes to secure the one-point victory.
Evan Kilminster led HPU with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Avi Halpert and Marino Dubravcic added nine points apiece. Nemanja Sarenac contributed eight points and eight rebounds, and Franciz Wai provided a spark off the bench with eight points in nine minutes.
The opening half featured several lead changes before the Sharks found their offensive rhythm. After trailing 22-16 midway through the period, HPU battled back behind contributions from Wai, Ike Sutton and Zane Gaul. The Sharks closed the half with an 11-0 run, highlighted by consecutive three-pointers from Kilminster in the final minute, to take a 42-31 advantage into the break.
HPU continued its momentum early in the second half, opening with a 7-0 run to extend its lead to 49-31. However, Minot State responded with a strong offensive push, gradually cutting into the deficit. The Beavers outscored the Sharks 40-28 in the second half as the contest tightened down the stretch.
The Beavers' second-half comeback erased HPU's lead and set up a close finish. Minot State was led by Parker Falcon, who scored a game-high 17 points, and Jayse Boatwright, who added 16. The Beavers also held a 41-37 rebounding advantage and collected 15 offensive rebounds.
The Sharks finished shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc, connecting on 10 three-pointers. Woodward added seven points and eight rebounds, while Sutton and Gaul contributed six points apiece. HPU moves to 1-1 on the season following the semifinal loss at the Hawaii Tip-Off Classic.
