Weber’s block saves day as HPU downs Menlo in 2nd annual Field Trip Game

HONOLULU – Carried by the keiki. 

In major need of a win after losing five of their last six games, the Hawai’i Pacific University men’s basketball team broke out the secret weapon on Thursday as they returned home to host Menlo. With the help of a few shuttles and very selfless volunteers, hundreds of screaming elementary school students from nearby Noelani and Manoa were safely transported from the classrooms, through the pouring rain, and eventually into the Shark Tank to help cheer on the Sharks to a dramatic 74-71 victory over the Oaks. 

After a successful first year of the “Shark Bite” mentorship program, HPU and the local elementary schools teamed up again for another day of fun in the gym as the young students got to see the people that come to their classrooms each week in action on the court. The Sharks put on a show for the kids, seeing four different players finish in double figures on the way to a critical conference win. 

Joshua West, Charlie Weber and Avi Halpert each totaled 16 points for HPU in the victory, taking turns in the second half to help the Sharks overcome a slim halftime deficit to take down one of the hotter teams in the PacWest. West added 11 rebounds to secure his third double-double of the season while Weber came up with the game-sealing block of Salim Arikat to send the students back to school energized from a victory by the Sharks. 

Patrick Ryan led all scorers with 21 points for Menlo, scoring the Oaks’ first nine points of the game and 13 in all during the first half. Defending PacWest Defender of the Week Landon Seamon had an unusually quiet day on the glass, scoring 17 points but snagging just one board as the Sharks held the star forward in check for much of the afternoon. 

After the Oaks’ hot start to the game, HPU worked quickly to knot the game at 18 as Avi Halpert hit the first of his two 3-pointers on the day with 13 minutes left in the opening half. A rapid blitz in transition from Menlo freshman guard Nick Davidson helped the visitors regain the lead, but a nice finish in the final minute of the half from Halpert pulled the Sharks within a possession and sent the team into the locker room with some momentum. 

HPU guard Avi Halpert drives by a defender on the way to the basket during the Sharks’ 74-71 victory over Menlo. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

HPU would surge ahead to start the second half, taking the team’s first lead of the game five minutes out of the break as Tucker Pellicci knocked down a pair of free throws to make it 40-39. Some quality minutes from Jakob Kimura pushed the Sharks’ lead to as many as seven, helping the hosts shave off valuable time from the clock as they traded baskets with Menlo. 

Joshua West looked to deliver the dagger for HPU with 1:38 left to play, but turnovers, missed free throws and a slippery floor helped the Oaks make a rapid dash to pull within three with five seconds left and the ball. After a timeout, Menlo executed a sideline out-of-bounds play beautifully, getting what looked like a clean look for Salim Arikat from the top of the key to tie. 

Flying in came Charlie Weber. 

The 6-foot-9 forward denied Arikat’s attempt, sending the ball to the floor as the buzzer sounded and hundreds of elementary schoolers screamed in delight. In total, the HPU defense held Menlo to a 2-of-17 performance from long distance as the Sharks shot back up into PacWest Tournament contention. 

Pavle Kuzmanovic added 10 points and two rebounds off the bench for HPU, knocking down two of the Sharks’ nine makes from behind the arc. Jakob Kimura chipped in five points and drilled his first 3-pointer in nearly a month to help spark the Sharks in the second half. Tucker Pellicci finished the day with four points, three rebounds and two blocks to provide a massive defensive spark. 

You can catch the recording of this and other HPU Sharks Athletics broadcasts in our archives or under ‘Hawaii Sports Radio Network’ where you get most podcasts.