Hawaii Pacific earns at-large bid to 2026 NCAA Division II Tournament

Hawaii Pacific earns at-large bid to 2026 NCAA Division II Tournament

Mar 8, 2026

Hawaii Pacific earns at-large bid to 2026 NCAA Division II Tournament

HPU celebrates after coming back from 17 down on the road to defeat Chaminade in overtime. | Photo Credit: Daniel Fujita, HSRN

 

HONOLULU – They finally sent an invite back to the islands.

For the third time in program history, the Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team is going dancing as the Sharks received an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament on Sunday evening.

Hawaii Pacific (18-11) secured the West Region’s No. 7 seed, setting up a first-round matchup against No. 2-seeded Saint Martin’s (25-5). The Saints won the GNAC regular season and tournament titles, going into postseason play ranked No. 21 in the nation.

HPU returned home on Saturday after falling in the PacWest semifinals to No. 22 Point Loma and reconvened on Sunday inside the ‘Shark Reef’ in Mānoa to watch the 2026 NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament selection show.

The Sharks were ranked seventh in the West Region after collecting a pair of top 25 wins and 18 wins within the region this year, but there was plenty of anxiety amongst the coaching staff and team as they awaited the official bracket. HPU finished with the seventh-best KPI and RPI in the West Region, putting together a resume worthy of the program’s second-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and third-ever appearance.

“Elated and pretty relieved,” third-year head coach Jesse Nakanishi said of the emotions immediately following the selection. “It was a really good season, some highs and lows, but the highs far outweighed the lows. We were able to have some big victories with West Region teams and PacWest teams to really improve our resume and have a national caliber resume.”

Nakanishi was an assistant coach on the 2016-17 Hawaii Pacific squad, the most successful Sharks team since the school moved up from the NAIA to NCAA Division II in 1998. The only other team in Sharks history to receive an invite to the national tournament as a D2 program was the 1998-99 team that lost to Seattle Pacific in the opening round.

That 2017 run saw a PacWest regular season and tournament title go to the Sharks before they downed Sonoma State by 12 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. HPU fell by three points in the Round of 32 against Chico State, who beat the West Region’s top three seeds that year on the way to an Elite 8 appearance.

Nakanishi admits he’s made references about that 2016-17 team and run throughout this year’s campaign, both to the team and to his staff. In just his third year captaining the ship after longtime head coach Darren Vorderbruegge retired following the 2022-23 season, Nakanishi already has put together two PacWest tournament appearances and secured an NCAA Tournament invite.

“Coach V did such a great job of building the program and having it be a process and getting better and better each year, and then we had that culminating year in 2017,” Nakanishi said. “Years leading up to that, we had 20-win seasons and [kept] growing and growing and that’s what I’m trying to do with this program.”

Hawaii Pacific took on and took down Saint Martin’s back on November 18 in Mānoa, handing the Saints an 88-75 loss inside the Shark Tank for the team’s 2026 home opener. Four different Sharks finished in double figures, led by Joshua West’s 20-point, 8-rebound outburst.

HPU celebrates after taking down Saint Martin’s on November 18. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Asked about what he remembered from that mid-November matchup with Saint Martin’s, the all-PacWest 1st-team guard West heaped praise on HPU’s first round opponent.

“Well coached team, talented team,” West said of the Saints. “Just because we beat them once, that doesn’t mean that it’ll come easy again so we’re not taking the game for granted. We respect them, they’re the number two seed for a reason.”

Nakanishi was similarly quick to point out the lack of impact that the previous result against Saint Martin’s would have in the upcoming matchup, pointing out the time between meetings and amount that each team had grown and evolved since. He also pointed out that getting the Saints on the schedule was purposeful for the Sharks’ postseason aspirations.

“Having that game on our schedule and being able to come away with that victory early on in the season, I knew it would come into play for West Region ranks and sure enough, it did,” Nakanishi stated. “My philosophy is schedule as hard as you can, and then you’ve got to go win some of those very difficult games.”

Saint Martin’s has won eight of the last nine and six games in a row heading into the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Saints won their first-ever GNAC championship last weekend after claiming the conference’s regular season crown with a 15-3 record in league play.

“It’s going to be an extremely daunting challenge, but we’re up for it,” Nakanishi said.

Hawaii Pacific will travel to Cal State East Bay, the top seed and host in the West Region, to take on Saint Martin’s on Friday, March 13 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner will advance to face the victor between No. 3 Point Loma and No. 6 Northwest Nazarene on Saturday.

Opening tipoff time is TBA.

Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade

Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade

Apr 23, 2026

 HONOLULU – Leave it to a sophomore to steal the day for the seniors. Behind a monster showing from 3B Tyler Arnold at the plate, the Hawaii Pacific University baseball team slugged a 19-1 mercy-rule shortened victory over rival Chaminade...

Utah Tech sharpshooter Chance Trujillo chooses Hawai’i as home

Utah Tech sharpshooter Chance Trujillo chooses Hawai’i as home

Apr 18, 2026

 HONOLULU – The Beehive State continues to be sweet like honey to Hawai’i. Former Utah Tech redshirt freshman Chance Trujillo announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball program on Friday, joining the wave of...

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Long Beach State spoils Senior Night in Hawaii behind Sykes’ 34

Long Beach State spoils Senior Night in Hawaii behind Sykes’ 34

Mar 7, 2026

Long Beach State spoils Senior Night in Hawaii behind Sykes’ 34

The 2026 UH men’s basketball senior class (from left to right: Gytis Nemeikša, Isaac Johnson, Hunter Erickson, Harry Rouhliadeff, Dre Bullock, Yacine Toumi.) | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

HONOLULU – Stakes through the Hawai’i heart.

With an opportunity to claim a share of the Big West’s regular season crown, the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team faltered in their final home game of the year as Gavin Sykes exploded for a second straight 30-point outing to help Long Beach State ruin the fun on Senior Night in the islands, 84-75.

The freshman guard had a game-best 34 points for the visitors, who shot a sizzling 55% from the field as a team while draining 9-of-18 from long distance. Sykes shot 10-for-17 himself overall while draining 5-of-8 from 3-point range, including three straight triples in the final few minutes to put the game out of reach for the Rainbow Warriors.

“I want to give Long Beach credit,” Hawai’i head coach Eran Ganot said after the game. “We didn’t deserve to win. They outplayed us, they outcompeted us.”

With no postseason to play for, LBSU came out with their own championship mentality as they took a 22-19 lead over the Rainbow Warriors more than midway through the opening half. Hawai’i struggled shooting throughout the first half, making just 1-of-10 from long distance to start before Hunter Erickson tied it at 22 with his second triple of the evening.

Erickson and Ike Finlinson each drained another 3-pointer to keep UH afloat as the first half wound down, but Long Beach State connected on eight of their final nine shots of the stanza to take a 44-34 advantage into the locker rooms.

Isaac “Big Fish” Johnson looked to spark the hosts as the second half began as he dove to the floor for an extra possession, leading to a layup for Finlinson and igniting an 11-3 run that cut the deficit to two for Hawai’i with 13 minutes left in regulation.

After a timeout by Long Beach and the under-12-minute media stoppage, the Rainbow Warriors flashed full court pressure and forced back-to-back steals to push ahead for the first time since the 10:25 mark of the first half as Dre Bullock and Harry Rouhliadeff cashed in four straight free throws.

With the crowd back engaged and chomping at the bit to celebrate Senior Night in style, Harry Rouhliadeff and Isaac Johnson provided a pair of ear-popping moments with an and-one finish and putback dunk for Hawai’i before each picked up their fourth personal fouls with over seven minutes left in regulation.

With two of UH’s senior forwards glued to the bench, Long Beach State took quick advantage to pull back in front with an 8-0 run. Johnson returned and sunk a pair of free throws to make it a 66-62 deficit for the Rainbow Warriors with 4:32 to play, but the hosts could not pull any closer as Gavin Sykes went nuclear to put the dagger in the hearts of Hawai’i and their fans with 14 points over the final three and a half minutes to clinch the 84-75 upset.

Senior guard Hunter Erickson finished with a career-high 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the loss for the Rainbow Warriors, making four 3-pointers in a game for just the second time this season. Isaac Johnson had 16 points, eight rebounds and three steals in 26 minutes of work as he navigated foul woes in the second half.

Ike Finlinson and Dre Bullock also finished in double figures for the hosts, scoring 15 and 14 points respectively. Bullock looked to experience some discomfort late in the game and exited briefly before returning to finish the contest for the Rainbow Warriors.

Following the game, Hawai’i turned attention quickly to celebrate six seniors who helped the program to one of the best year-over-year turnarounds in recent Big West memory in Erickson, Johnson, Bullock, Yacine Toumi, Gytis Nemeikša and captain Harry Rouhliadeff.

“I spoke to the team in the end to let it go right now because your senior night here is as good as it gets,” a weary Eran Ganot said after the game. “I begged [the team], do me a favor [and] let me take this one on. You go enjoy your senior night, nobody does it better.”

Hawaii G Hunter Erickson bends down to get another lei on Senior Night. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Ganot was appreciative of the fans staying to celebrate a senior group that he said was “right up there” with some of the good ones that he’s been able to work with.

Each receiving loud ovations, all six seniors were able to crack smiles as they went through the Senior Night processions in the islands. Rouhliadeff and Johnson were visibly emotional as they were introduced one final time to the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center crowd.

“It was just awesome,” Johnson said when asked about his emotions during the ceremony. “When you’re in a game, you’re so locked in on what’s going on in the game. I like to get hyped with the crowd and everything like that and look out, but it’s all a blur. To be able to take it in and just realize and be able to see how many people were here supporting us and loving us … to see them reciprocate that love … I feel like you’re not a true man if you can’t show a little emotion and I couldn’t hold it back.”

Rouhliadeff, who was the lone senior to spend all four of his college seasons in Mānoa, was equally expressive in his gratitude for what the University of Hawai’i and the state overall has given him.

“I’ve had the most incredible four years of my life here,” Rouhliadeff emphasized. “I would not change a thing, and these are the best fans in the world. There’s no doubt about that. They know how to cheer for us and it’s such a joy, such a privilege to play in front of these fans every single week.”

Hawaii F Harry Rouhliadeff daps up teammates during Senior Night ceremonies. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i (22-8, 14-6 Big West) was locked into the No. 2 seed for the 2026 Credit Union 1 Big West Men’s Basketball Championship tournament regardless of Saturday night’s result due to conference tiebreakers and will receive a double-bye and a spot directly into the Big West semifinal round.

No. 6-seeded UC Davis (18-13, 11-9 Big West) will take on No. 7-seeded UC Santa Barbara (18-13, 11-9 Big West) on Wednesday in the first round of the conference tournament. The winner will advance to face third-seeded Cal State Fullerton (17-15, 12-18 Big West) in the quarterfinal round.

No. 2-seeded Hawai’i awaits the winner of the Cal State Fullerton-UCD/UCSB matchup on Friday in the Big West semifinals. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. HT / 8:30 p.m. PT.

“We’ll always keep confidence high in our team,” Rouhliadeff reaffirmed about the Rainbow Warriors heading into the postseason. “We’re going to go in on Friday on a mission because we obviously didn’t want to finish our regular season off like this, so we’re going to come out firing … I have all the faith in the world in our guys.”

Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade

Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade

Apr 23, 2026

 HONOLULU – Leave it to a sophomore to steal the day for the seniors. Behind a monster showing from 3B Tyler Arnold at the plate, the Hawaii Pacific University baseball team slugged a 19-1 mercy-rule shortened victory over rival Chaminade...

Utah Tech sharpshooter Chance Trujillo chooses Hawai’i as home

Utah Tech sharpshooter Chance Trujillo chooses Hawai’i as home

Apr 18, 2026

 HONOLULU – The Beehive State continues to be sweet like honey to Hawai’i. Former Utah Tech redshirt freshman Chance Trujillo announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball program on Friday, joining the wave of...

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Hawaii’s Harry Rouhliadeff is rarest of Rainbow Warrior gems

Hawaii’s Harry Rouhliadeff is rarest of Rainbow Warrior gems

Mar 7, 2026

Hawaii’s Harry Rouhliadeff is rarest of Rainbow Warrior gems

Hawaii F Harry Rouhliadeff goes up for a shot during a home game during his senior season. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

HONOLULU – There’s plenty special about Harry Rouhliadeff.

The 6-foot-10 forward will be honored alongside five other seniors when the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team hosts Long Beach State to wrap up the 2025-26 regular season on Saturday night, but the Australian is unique amongst his peers.

Of course, Rouhliadeff is the lone captain on this year’s Rainbow Warrior squad. One of four players currently averaging 10.0 points per game or more, the forward has been a key component of a UH team that enters the final day of the regular season with a chance to claim at least a share of the Big West’s regular season crown.

But it’s the context of Rouhliadeff’s career that makes him a bit of a unicorn in today’s era of college basketball.

Rouhliadeff will be one of the two seniors honored Saturday night that has tolled multiple seasons in the islands. While fellow forward Gytis Nemeikša is uncommon in his own right, he is closer to the group of four that joined UH’s program this year than the team’s captain.

Nemeikša, like Dre Bullock, Hunter Erickson, Isaac Johnson and Yacine Toumi, spent time in the transfer portal and joined the Rainbow Warriors for a bigger opportunity and a chance to win. They flourished with a coaching staff and fan base that believed in them from the moment they met them and have helped reinvigorate a sleeping giant of an atmosphere inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Rouhliadeff picked Hawai’i from the start and never tested the transfer portal waters. He is one of two true seniors in the entire Big West this year that has spent all four seasons with the same program and the lone lifetime Rainbow Warrior of the six with expiring eligibility.

Harry Rouhliadeff (back, right) poses on UH’s Senior Night with the team in 2023 as a freshman. | Photo Credit: HSRN

An 18-year-old prospect from Brisbane when he made the trek to the islands in 2022, Rouhliadeff appeared in 26 games in a reserve role for a UH squad that went 22-11. Stuck behind Kamaka Hepa, Samuta Avea and Bernardo da Silva in the rotation his first year, Rouhliadeff returned for his sophomore season and checked into 32 games while helping the Rainbow Warriors tally another 20-win campaign in 2023-24.

The 2024-25 season was a bit bumpier, seeing another pair of transfers come into the fold and clog up opportunities for Rouhliadeff as he entered his junior year. He lost his starting job after opening the season in the starting five, getting demoted into a bench role where he didn’t get over 20 minutes of action in a game for a month.

Rouhliadeff worked back into the starting lineup for 10 of the final 11 games, suffering an immediate injury after checking in against CSUN in the season finale as the Rainbow Warriors missed the Big West tournament for the first time ever.

With Hawai’i facing a mass roster overhaul, Rouhliadeff had done enough to attract opportunities to reset as a senior elsewhere after a solid personal finish to his junior campaign on the court. He had a choice to make – did he hit the road like eight former teammates or remain in a room that would bring in eight new faces to replace them?

Rouhliadeff chose to stay in the islands, forgoing his final chance to enter the transfer portal for one last run with the Rainbow Warriors in the Big West.

“It’s hard to leave a place like this,” Rouhliadeff said at the start of his Senior Week when asked about staying the course with the Rainbow Warriors. “It’s home and I’ve loved every second.”

Harry Rouhliadeff celebrates after a win with the UH crowd. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

He’s been rewarded by the basketball gods for his loyalty.

One of four players to return from last season’s disappointment, Rouhliadeff was named the captain in the preseason and lived up to the title throughout his final campaign in green. He has helped pilot what has the chance to be one of the best year-to-year turnarounds in recent Big West memory for UH.

After finishing outside the field of top eight teams last season and watching the Big West Tournament from home in 2025, the Rainbow Warriors enter the final day of the regular season in 2026 with a chance at claiming at least a share of the conference crown.

With a win over Long Beach State on Saturday night, UH would become the third team since they joined the Big West in 2012 to win a share of the regular season conference title after finishing ninth or worse in the standings during the previous year.

Rouhliadeff has been a big part of the bounce back by the ‘Bows, averaging career highs in points, rebounds, assists, FG%, 3PT% and blocks while providing multiple clutch moments for a heart stopping Hawai’i team.

He will end his career by becoming one of the two lone players in UH program history to be a part of three separate seasons of 20 wins or more when it’s all said and done.

[**Editor’s note: G Dyrbe Enos was a part of three 20-win seasons while with UH, but the 2013-14 season saw all 20 wins vacated as part of the school’s response to a notice of allegations from the NCAA regarding ineligible players participating in the final two years under former head coach Gib Arnold.]

Rouhliadeff has played every role from deep reserve to full-time starter in his time with the Rainbow Warriors, but Saturday gives him a chance to do something he still hasn’t experienced with the program.

Win a conference title.

“We’ve got such a huge opportunity in front of us,” Rouhliadeff said of the stakes of his final regular season week as a Rainbow Warrior. “Not to put any pressure on ourselves, but we just take every game like it’s a championship game.”

Saturday could be a crown jewel for Rouhliadeff’s Rainbow Warrior tenure. It would be the fourth regular season conference title in program history and the first since 2016.

Regardless of the Saturday result for Hawai’i, Harry Rouhliadeff has already proven to be the rarest of gems.

Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade

Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade

Apr 23, 2026

 HONOLULU – Leave it to a sophomore to steal the day for the seniors. Behind a monster showing from 3B Tyler Arnold at the plate, the Hawaii Pacific University baseball team slugged a 19-1 mercy-rule shortened victory over rival Chaminade...

Utah Tech sharpshooter Chance Trujillo chooses Hawai’i as home

Utah Tech sharpshooter Chance Trujillo chooses Hawai’i as home

Apr 18, 2026

 HONOLULU – The Beehive State continues to be sweet like honey to Hawai’i. Former Utah Tech redshirt freshman Chance Trujillo announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball program on Friday, joining the wave of...

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Rosenthal rises to occasion to help Hawai’i to split with No. 7 Pepperdine

Rosenthal rises to occasion to help Hawai’i to split with No. 7 Pepperdine

Mar 6, 2026

Rosenthal rises to occasion to help Hawai’i to split with No. 7 Pepperdine

Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

HONOLULU – Calmed waters.

After falling to the Waves in Honolulu for the first time since 2009 on Wednesday night, the third-ranked University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team bounced back in four sets on Friday to take down No. 7 Pepperdine, (25-22, 21-25, 25-15, 36-34).

Four Rainbow Warriors finished with 10 or more kills, led by sophomore opposite Kainoa Wade’s 19 kills, nine dig performance. Sophomore Trevell Jordan set a new career high with 15 kills on 20 swings, tallying five blocks as the 6-foot-10 middle blocker took his game to new heights while playing in front of a season-high crowd of 7,247 fans.

“The crowd definitely played a part in it,” Jordan said of his career outing. “They were really loud, and it was a little [nerve-wracking] at first, but I mean, you got to rally together in that and Tread [Rosenthal] finding me was amazing.”

Travel Jordan (20) celebrates with Louis Sakanoko (23) and Tread Rosenthal (13) after a point against No. 7 Pepperdine. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Rosenthal piloted the offense with a season-high 56 assists and four aces while adding six kills for the second straight match from the setter spot. The junior’s final putdown of the night was the match-winner, taking matters into his own hands to end a marathon fourth frame.

Following Wednesday’s four-set flub, head coach Charlie Wade said that Thursday’s practice saw an uptick in intensity from the players that is uncommon ahead of an encore match in a series.

“Pretty locked in yesterday at practice,” the veteran head coach recalled. “Usually, when there’s the day in between [matches] here, they’re looking to kind of back off a little because they’re sore, and yesterday, they were looking to push it.”

With a motivated group and a boost from a vocal crowd from the opening serve, Hawai’i wrestled away a competitive first set from Pepperdine, 25-22, behind an active block and Trevell Jordan’s early four kills.

“It was just a little different vibe walking in and it helped us get off to that good start,” Wade pitched as a difference for the Rainbow Warriors from Wednesday to Friday.

The Waves washed away UH’s single-set advantage quickly, returning fire in the second frame with the help of Punahou alum Aiden Tune’s time in the service box turning the tide. The redshirt junior placed an ace in the middle of all six Rainbow Warriors late in the set to cap off a four-point run that put the visitors ahead and sophomore opposite Cole Hartke finished the deal a few rallies later with back-to-back kills to knot the match at a set apiece.

Hawai’i pushed back in front with a dominant third frame, leading from start to finish in the 25-15 decision as the group hit .632 while pushing Pepperdine into the negatives with more attacking errors (7) than kills (5) in the set.

Then came the marathon.

The Waves went ahead by four in the opening minutes of the fourth set behind returning All-Americans Cole Hartke and Ryan Barnett taking turns tormenting UH.

Looking to return fire, Hawai’i turned to their own All-American.

Tread Rosenthal set up Kainoa Wade to slow down Pepperdine’s momentum and send himself back to the service box for UH. The junior dealt out a pair of aces during an eight-point run behind the stripe, giving him 104 in his college career to tie him with Spyros Chakas for seventh all-time among Rainbow Warriors while vaulting the hosts in front, 15-10.

“He’ll break the school record, probably this year,” Charlie Wade candidly said of Rosenthal’s prowess for racking up service aces.

Hartke and Barnett got the Waves back on track to pull back within a point, but Hawai’i was able to hold onto the lead into the late moments of the frame behind Wade, Adrien Roure and Louis Sakanoko taking turns on the attack.

Pepperdine held off two Hawai’i match points to tie the do-or-die fourth frame at 24, sparking a race to taking a two-point advantage between a pair of rabid teams.

After 14 total set points between teams and eight aloha ball chances for the hosts, Rosenthal again took matters into his own hands and smashed the match winner over on two to deliver a hard-fought series split to the Rainbow Warriors.

Cole Hartke led the way in the loss for Pepperdine, racking up 20 kills on 55 swings while tallying a match-leading seven attack errors. Ryan Barnett tacked on 13 kills and eight digs while Jose Gomez added 13 kills and five digs of his own for the Waves.

Adrien Roure, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Friday, had 15 kills and seven digs in the victory for the Rainbow Warriors. Fellow French outside hitter Louis Sakanoko was the fourth and final player to finish with double figures kills for Hawai’i as he tallied 12 putdowns on 26 tries while getting hands on four blocks.

Hawai’i (15-2) will return to action next Thursday, March 12, hosting Mount Olive, No. 14 Lewis and No. 1 UCLA in the 30th annual OUTRIGGER Invitational.

Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade

Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade

Apr 23, 2026

 HONOLULU – Leave it to a sophomore to steal the day for the seniors. Behind a monster showing from 3B Tyler Arnold at the plate, the Hawaii Pacific University baseball team slugged a 19-1 mercy-rule shortened victory over rival Chaminade...

Utah Tech sharpshooter Chance Trujillo chooses Hawai’i as home

Utah Tech sharpshooter Chance Trujillo chooses Hawai’i as home

Apr 18, 2026

 HONOLULU – The Beehive State continues to be sweet like honey to Hawai’i. Former Utah Tech redshirt freshman Chance Trujillo announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball program on Friday, joining the wave of...

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Long distance barrage helps Point Loma hammer Hawaii Pacific in PacWest semifinals

Long distance barrage helps Point Loma hammer Hawaii Pacific in PacWest semifinals

Mar 6, 2026

Long distance barrage helps Point Loma hammer Hawaii Pacific in PacWest semifinals

HPU head coach Jesse Nakanishi pleads his case with an official during a home contest. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Raining threes on the Sharks’ parade.

The No. 4-seeded Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team saw their PacWest Tournament title hopes flame out on Friday afternoon, falling to No. 1 Point Loma (24-5) in the conference semifinals, 95-66.

Six different Sea Lions finished in double figures in the win, led by all-PacWest 1st-team selection Jaden Matingou’s 20 points and seven assists. Redshirt junior guard Caden Harris tacked on 17 points for PLNU while all-PacWest 3rd-teamer Andrew Hommes drilled all four of his 3-pointers in a 12-point outing that went along with three rejections.

The top-seeded team in the tournament playing in their home gym, Point Loma matched a season-high in made 3-pointers as they bludgeoned HPU in the semifinal rubber match. The Sea Lions shot better than 53% from the floor as a group while draining 16-of-31 attempts from behind the arc.

A hot start by Hommes helped the hosts out to a 16-7 lead over the Sharks before graduate forward Josh Niusulu powered HPU out of a scoring drought with a pair of strong interior finishes and his lone 3-pointer of the afternoon to make it a 23-17 game with 10:57 left in the first half.

Nemanja Sarenac swished his only triple of the game right after to pull the Sharks within three, but that was the closest that Hawaii Pacific could get as the Sea Lions sizzled off a 31-8 run to go into the break leading by 26.

Point Loma torched the HPU defense, shooting 68% from the field while connecting on 8-of-13 from distance in the first half. The Sea Lions also drilled 12-of-14 attempts from the charity stripe, getting four different rotation players into foul trouble for HPU before the break.

Hawaii Pacific opened the second half with a 6-0 run, but three consecutive turnovers quickly killed the momentum right after as PLNU pushed the margin back over 25 by the under-16 media timeout.

Avi Halpert tried to spur one more rally for HPU, but a pair of Jake Lifgren triples sandwiching Tyce Paulsen’s final 3-pointer of the day pushed the lead over 30 for the Sea Lions and sent the game into garbage time early.

Josh Niusulu led the effort for HPU in the loss, scoring 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting in 22 minutes of action as he dealt with foul trouble throughout the day. Quinton McCullough and Kemp Van Es each added 10 points for the Sharks while Quentin Meza and Joshua West were each held to eight points on a combined 4-for-13 shooting from the floor.

Kahiau Bruhn tacked on seven points, hitting all three shots from the field while grabbing a pair of rebounds in nine minutes off the bench.

Top-seeded Point Loma advances to a fourth consecutive PacWest Tournament championship game to face No. 2 Westmont on Saturday at 12 p.m. HT/2 p.m. PT in San Diego. The Sea Lions are the defending conference champions and have won four of the last five PacWest Tournament crowns.

Hawaii Pacific (18-11) will have to wait until Sunday, March 8 to see what their fate is when it gets revealed during the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball championship selection show. The Sharks were the No. 7 team in the final West Region ranking before the postseason while Point Loma checked in at No. 3 and Westmont at No. 9 on the same list.

The winner of Point Loma-Westmont will receive the PacWest’s automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The CCAA and GNAC tournament champions will also each receive an auto-bid to the national tournament with the final five at-large spots going to the top teams in the final regional ranking.

Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade

Tyler Arnold delivers Senior Day show as HPU smashes Chaminade

Apr 23, 2026

 HONOLULU – Leave it to a sophomore to steal the day for the seniors. Behind a monster showing from 3B Tyler Arnold at the plate, the Hawaii Pacific University baseball team slugged a 19-1 mercy-rule shortened victory over rival Chaminade...

Utah Tech sharpshooter Chance Trujillo chooses Hawai’i as home

Utah Tech sharpshooter Chance Trujillo chooses Hawai’i as home

Apr 18, 2026

 HONOLULU – The Beehive State continues to be sweet like honey to Hawai’i. Former Utah Tech redshirt freshman Chance Trujillo announced his commitment to the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball program on Friday, joining the wave of...

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