Hawai`i Pacific begins the PacWest season 1-0 with a hard fought win over visiting Westmont, 78-74. That is win No. 1 for new head coach Jesse Nakanishi. Dominic Winbush had 27 points to help spark that win to earn Player of the Week. Urban Knight Treylon Payne ignited a Academy of Art run in the first half with his stealing ways to gain Defender of the Week.
2023-24 Standings
2023-24 Statistics
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hawai`i Pacific's Dominic Winbush, G, Jr., 6-1, Los Angeles, Calif.
Hawai`i Pacific's Dominic Winbush made hay at the free throw line to help his team with a big conference-opening victory over Westmont at the Shark Tank, 78-74. Winbush made 12 of 15 free throw attempts, including a pair with just 11 seconds left to help secure the win. The Chabot College transfer also hit 3-of-4 three-point attempts, connected on 6-of-13 shots from the field and added three assists, two steals and two rebounds. The Los Angeles native is now averaging 14.2 points a game and has reached double figures in his last four outings.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Academy of Art's Treylon Payne, G, Jr., 6-2, Little Rock, Ark.
Academy of Art's Treylon Payne stole the show, literally, in the opening moments of the Urban Knights' 95-76 win over future PacWest member Jessup. Payne had five steals in the first half alone, sparking a 20-5 ART U run in the first six minutes of the contest that helped put the game out of reach early. The Butler CC transfer also had five rebounds and 11 points in the contest. The Arkansas native now has 12 steals in six games for the Urban Knights.
TEAM OF THE WEEK: Hawai`i Pacific Sharks
Hawai`i Pacific rewarded first-year head coach
Jesse Nakanishi with his inaugural PacWest win during a 79-75 home victory over Westmont. In addition to
Dominic Winbush's 27 points (see POW above),
Maj Dusanic had a double-double with 10-10 and
Matthew Van Komen added ten points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. It was the fourth straight win for Nakanishi and the Sharks, with the last three coming with a margin of four points or less. HPU is now 4-2 overall after close victories over Simon Fraser (67-64), Slippery Rock (76-74) and now Westmont.
Vulcans and Sea Lions Climb Regional Ladder: Hawai`i Hilo shares the fourth slot and
Point Loma is sixth in today's D2CIDA West Region Men's Basketball Poll. Here's today's list. (1) CS San Bernardino 6-0, (2) Saint Martin's 8-1, (3) Chico State 5-1,
(T4) Hawai`i Hilo 5-2, (T4) CS Dominguez Hills 6-1,
(6) Point Loma 5-3, (7) Western Washington 7-3, (8) CS Los Angeles 5-2, (9) CS East Bay 5-2, (10) Central Washington 5-3. RV--Northwest Nazarene, Montana State Billings,
Hawai`i Pacific.
PACWEST NEWS AND NOTES: Chaminade went 2-1 on the week with victories over Slippery Rock (75-67) and Fresno Pacific (67-55).
Westmont won its first-ever PacWest game in the middle of those two contests, topping the Silverswords 79-78...
Biola had wins on back-to-back nights over SAGU American Indian College.
Casey Cappo totaled 35 points with 19 rebounds and four blocks in those wins, while
Tyus Parrish-Tillman blocked six shots in their first meeting..
.Isaiah Williams had 25 points and eight rebounds in ART U's win over Jessup..
.Zach Paulsen had 20 points and seven boards in Point Loma's 90-81 win over future member Vanguard. Earlier in the week,
Luke Smith had 19 points on five treys in front of 12,000+ at San Diego State (71-51 loss)...
Amir Davis had 35 total points and 18 rebounds in Westmont's split of games...
Isaac Amaral-Artharee had 24 points and six assists in Chamiande's win over Slippery Rock...
Azusa Pacific, Concordia, Dominican and
Hawai`i Hilo were all idle.
PACWEST SCHEDULE HEATS UP: After a load of non-conference games to tip off the season, a healthy dose of Pacwest games dot the schedule this week. It begins tonight (Monday) when Fresno Pacific plays at Hawaii Pacific and Westmont wraps up its Hawaii trip at Hilo. On Wedensday, Concordia goes to Biola, and FPU goes to Hilo. On Thursday, Azusa Pacific begins a Bay Area trip at Academy of Art, and on Saturday the Cougars are at Dominican. Concordia is at Point Loma on Saturdray, Biola is at Westmont and Chaminade wraps the week on Sunday at Academy of Art. To see the complete schedule and results,
click here.