Shorthanded Seasiders Lose Close One

Honolulu, HI—Despite playing without two star players, the seventh-ranked Brigham Young University Hawaii men’s basketball team put up a battle against Chaminade tonight in the championship game of the Hawaii Challenge hosted by Chaminade University before succumbing 87-81.  The Seasiders were playing without national Player of the Year Lucas Alves and leading scorer and 2008-09 Pacific West Conference Freshman of the Year Jet Chang, who are both injured.

The game was close throughout, with neither team ever holding a double-digit advantage.  The host Silverswords took a two-point halftime lead on a three-pointer to end the half and maintained a slight lead throughout the entire second half as the Seasiders, now 5-2 for the season, could never quite get a run going.

J.R. Buensuceso scored 22 points and hit five three-pointers to lead the Seasiders.  He also handed out four assists and was named to the All-Tournament team for his play.  Marques Whippy scored 17 points, grabbed ten rebounds, and made three steals for BYU–Hawaii and Rory Patterson, who also made the All-Tournament team came off the bench for 11 points.  A.J. Reilly, who got the start tonight in place of Chang, tallied ten points and pulled down six rebounds for the Seasiders.  Heath Gameren chipped in eight points and five assists and Gary Satterwhite also tallied eight points in the loss.

Chandler Pearson scored 21 points and Steve Bennett 20 to lead the Silverswords, now 3-4 for the year.  Waly Coulibaly and Shane Hanson each scored 14 points and Bennett finished with 12 assists for Chaminade.

The Seasiders will next face Simon Fraser on the 19th of December in Laie at 7:30 pm HST.

Box Score