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.

Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses

Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses

Aug 13, 2026

MĀNOA - The University of Hawai‘i football team continues to work its way through fall camp with head coach Timmy Chang encouraged by the progress he’s seeing across the roster. With the season opener drawing closer, the Rainbow Warriors remain...

Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Aug 12, 2026

Nearly two weeks into preseason camp, first-year University of Hawai‘i women’s volleyball head coach Joshua Walker likes what he’s seeing from the Rainbow Wahine. Walker joined Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network ahead of the team’s first exhibitions of...

Tracking the Hawaii men’s basketball 2026-27 schedule

Tracking the Hawaii men’s basketball 2026-27 schedule

Aug 12, 2026

HONOLULU – A new season on the hardwood is right around the corner, fit with fresh new conference memberships and tournament bracket designs. The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team embarks on its first season in the Mountain West in...

ADVERTISEMENT

Hawaii Pacific holds off Vanguard in PacWest quarterfinals

Hawaii Pacific holds off Vanguard in PacWest quarterfinals

Mar 5, 2026

Hawaii Pacific holds off Vanguard in PacWest quarterfinals

HPU’s bench cheers on during a home victory. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

 

Who wins when you pit Lions versus Sharks?

The No. 4-seeded Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team used a big second half start to down No. 5-seed Vanguard inside Golden Gymnasium on Thursday afternoon, advancing from the PacWest quarterfinals with a 64-59 victory over the Lions.

Senior guard Joshua West turned in his second double-double of the year to power the Sharks to their first postseason victory since 2017, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to go along with five assists, two steals and a pair of blocks in 35 minutes of action.

Senior forward Quinton McCullough followed along with a 15-point, 10-rebound performance of his own, registering his third double-double of the season and first since December 2 in a loss against Chaminade.

A slow start from the floor by HPU allowed the Lions to take a slim one-point advantage as all-PacWest selections Quentin Meza and Joshua West failed to make a field goal over the opening 15 minutes. Helped by a perfect performance at the charity stripe, the Sharks remained within striking distance while the two standout guards figured out the Vanguard defense.

West finished the first half with a bang (and a bank) as he sliced to the rim for a layup to give HPU the lead with 4:16 left before the half and followed it up with an assist to a wide-open Nemanja Sarenac for three and a banked-in 3-pointer himself to send the Sharks into the break in front, 31-29.

McCullough and West took turns scoring for HPU when play resumed, helping the No. 4 seed maintain a three-point advantage after five minutes of second half action. The Sharks shot the lead to 10 as Quentin Meza got in on the fun with his first 3-pointer of the afternoon before Maj Dusanic followed it up with an and-one to put HPU ahead double figures in a game that previously hadn’t seen either side lead by more than three.

The Sharks maintained a 10-point advantage until the PacWest’s leading scorer Erik Howlin took over for the Lions and scored seven straight points to make it a 55-52 game with 5:22 remaining.

After a timeout to slow the momentum of the Lions, HPU got a much-needed shot in the arm with Meza’s second 3-pointer of the day and a wild finish by West to go back up by seven with four minutes to play.

West’s bucket would be the final field goal for Hawaii Pacific over the final four minutes. McCullough and West drilled all four free throw attempts late to ice the win despite a late push from Howlin and the Lions.

Howlin finished as the lone scorer in double figures for Vanguard, dropping a game-high 26 points in the loss as he went 11-for-11 at the free throw line. Bryson Metz and Sammy Howlin each added nine points for the Lions, who shot under 32% from the field after halftime.

Hawaii Pacific won the battle on the glass, 35-29, while forcing 10 turnovers and giving the ball away 13 times. The Sharks were a perfect 15-for-15 at the charity stripe in the win, the first time this season they’ve gone an entire game without a single missed free throw.

Hawaii Pacific advances to Friday’s PacWest semifinal round, facing off against tournament host and top-seeded Point Loma at 12:45 p.m. HT/2:45 pm. PT. The Sharks and Sea Lions split their two regular season meetings, each winning on the other’s home floor in February.

Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses

Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses

Aug 13, 2026

MĀNOA - The University of Hawai‘i football team continues to work its way through fall camp with head coach Timmy Chang encouraged by the progress he’s seeing across the roster. With the season opener drawing closer, the Rainbow Warriors remain...

Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Aug 12, 2026

Nearly two weeks into preseason camp, first-year University of Hawai‘i women’s volleyball head coach Joshua Walker likes what he’s seeing from the Rainbow Wahine. Walker joined Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network ahead of the team’s first exhibitions of...

Tracking the Hawaii men’s basketball 2026-27 schedule

Tracking the Hawaii men’s basketball 2026-27 schedule

Aug 12, 2026

HONOLULU – A new season on the hardwood is right around the corner, fit with fresh new conference memberships and tournament bracket designs. The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team embarks on its first season in the Mountain West in...

ADVERTISEMENT

Waianae uses big inning to defeat Leilehua in OIA West opener, 11-5

Waianae uses big inning to defeat Leilehua in OIA West opener, 11-5

Mar 5, 2026

Waianae uses big inning to defeat Leilehua in OIA West opener, 11-5

Waianae’s Karma Pestana celebrates in the on-deck circle after the Seariders score a run. Pestana was also the winning pitcher. | Photo: Daniel Fujita, HSRN

PRINTABLE VERSION

Wai’anae erupted for six runs in the third inning to defeat Leilehua 11-5 on Wednesday afternoon at Ka‘ala Neighborhood Park in the OIA Division I West softball opener for both teams.

The Seariders finished with 15 hits and used a balanced offensive effort to pull away after falling behind early, allowing two runs in each of the first two innings.

Wai’anae struck first in the top of the first inning when catcher Bailey Chee launched a solo home run to center field.

Leilehua responded quickly, taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Lily Whelehan highlighted the rally with a triple to center field. The Mules added two more runs in the second inning when Jasmine Domingo grounded out to drive in a run and Shaleea Ancheta-Ballesteros doubled down the left-field line to bring in another.

Trailing 4-1, the Seariders broke the game open in the third. Lyric Palu began the rally with an RBI double before Chee connected on a two-run home run to right field. Honesty Manuel later added a two-run double, and Hope Jones drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the six-run frame.

Honesty Manuel holding it down at first base for the Waianae softball team. | Photo: Daniel Fujita, HSRN

Chee finished with two home runs and four RBIs. She also tripled and scored a game-high three runs.

Karma Pestana earned the win in the circle for Wai’anae, allowing five runs on 13 hits over seven innings while striking out eight and walking one.

Pestana, Chee and Palu each recorded three hits to lead the Seariders’ offense. Manuel and Kelia Chun added two stolen bases apiece.

Waianae catcher Bailey Chee sent the ball out of the park twice in the Seariders’ win over Leilehua. | Photo: Daniel Fujita, HSRN

Whelehan and Anuhea Kauhane led Leilehua in the loss with three hits each.

Wai’anae will travel to face Campbell on Saturday, while Leilehua will look for its first OIA win at Kapolei the same day.

‘Aiea cruises by McKinley to open OIA softball season, 30-5

‘Aiea cruises by McKinley to open OIA softball season, 30-5

Mar 4, 2026

‘Aiea cruises by McKinley to open OIA softball season, 30-5

All smiles for Skye Tingkang as ‘Aiea won its season opener. Tingkang scored a game-high five runs in the win. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

One of the favorites for the OIA Division II softball crown certainly look the part in the season opener.

‘Aiea started the 2026 regular season slate with a mercy-rule win, 30-5, Tuesday afternoon at Annex Field.

After going down 4-0 in the top of the first inning, Na Ali’i scored 22 runs on 12 hits in the bottom of the frame and never looked back as the matchup ended after three full innings.

Leadoff hitter and shortstop Skye Tingkang showed a strong eye at the plate scoring a team-high five runs. She singled in her only at bat while drawing three walks and garnering three RBIs.

Winning pitcher Wyndie Asing had a solid day at the plate as the No. 3 hitter with two triples in her two at bats and finished with a team-high six RBIs.

Rylee Baptista also had a productive day, scoring four runs on three hits.

In total, ‘Aiea collected 20 total hits while drawing 17 walks.

MJ Galicia led the McKinley at the plate with the team’s lone hit.

Even though it wasn’t the result the Tigers wanted, it was a step in the right direction for a team that had to forfeit their entire 2025 season due to low turnout numbers.

HPU completes series sweep over Jessup with 9-6 comeback win

HPU completes series sweep over Jessup with 9-6 comeback win

Mar 3, 2026

HPU completes series sweep over Jessup with 9-6 comeback win

The HPU dugout greets Ethan Murakoshi (8) after his solo home run in the seventh inning gave the Sharks the lead for good. | Photo: Daniel Fujita

WAIPAHU — This was a momentum-shifting weekend.

The Hawai’i Pacific University baseball team completed a four-game PacWest series sweep over Jessup with a 9-6 win at Hans L’Orange Park Monday night.

It was a much-needed stretch of victories for the Sharks (8-9). HPU was coming off its first road trip of the season where it loss six in a row and went 2-7.

“We’ve been talking about since day one. Our goal is just to get better every week,” said HPU fifth-year coach Dane Fujinaka. “I thought our guys did a really good job throughout the series after getting punched in the mouth a few times, being able to respond back.”

Adversity struck the Sharks early in game four of the series when the Warriors (9-8) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the top of the first inning — but HPU rallied to score runs in five of its final six innings on a series-high 16 hits to complete the sweep.

Fujinaka credited associated head coach Richard Higa for getting the Sharks ready to perform at the plate.

“He comes up with all the reports so hitters aren’t going int the box blind, without a plan. I thought they executed the plan really well against all their arms. I think when we do that, we’re a pretty exciting offense to watch,” Fujinaka said.

Jessup had a pair of homers to take a 2-0 lead in the first and a 5-4 lead in the fifth, but it was HPU’s Ethan Murakoshi who had the clutch home run of the night with a shot over the left-centerfield fence on the first pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Sharks the lead for good, 7-6.

Murakoshi also added an RBI single in the eighth and came home for the final run of the game for the final point total.

“That was unbelievable,” Fujinaka said of Murakoshi’s go-ahead blast. “It might be the biggest hit in his career so far. He’s come a long way from last year, from a maturity standpoint, from a confidence standpoint. For him to be able to get one in that situation, he’s going to be a big-time player.”

Three different players had three hits for HPU on Monday night. Leadoff hitter Kan Taguchi went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Five-hole hitter and catcher Blake Helsper drove in the most runs with three RBIs, including a 2 RBI single that gave HPU a 6-5 lead in the sixth inning. Christian Perez was the last Shark with three hits, going 3-for-5.

Left-handed pitcher Garrett Sinfield earned the win on the mound in the series finale against Jessup. | Photo: Daniel Fujita

Noah Meaux recorded his second save in three night for the Sharks on Monday. He helped get the first out in the top of the eighth before moving to right field, then retook the mound in the ninth and ended the game on a swinging strikeout with the bases loaded.

The Sharks started the series with a 10-6 victory on Saturday night when they opened game one with a 4-1 lead after the first inning and a 9-4 lead after the third.

The Sharks started the series with a 10-6 victory on Saturday night when they opened game one with a 4-1 lead after the first inning and a 9-4 lead after the third.

Jayden Gabrillo (3-2) was the winning pitcher in the series-opener with five innings pitched while adding a RBI double and two runs scored. He also played the hero in the first game of a double-header on Sunday with a pinch-hit RBI single in a 3-2 walk-off victory.

All smiles for Jayden Gabrillo Sunday afternoon as he played the hero in a 3-2 walk-off win. | Photo: Michael Lasquero

Game three of the series saw the Sharks come away with 13-8 victory. They scored in their first five innings of that game, which included 10 runs combined in the third and fourth innings.

HPU takes on Azusa Pacific next to continue conference play. The first game of the series is Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seniors help Hawai’i crush Cal State Fullerton on Senior Night

Seniors help Hawai’i crush Cal State Fullerton on Senior Night

Mar 1, 2026

Seniors help Hawai’i crush Cal State Fullerton on Senior Night

Hawai’i WBB seniors Saniyah Neverson (left), Imani Perez (middle) and Izzy Forsyth (right) pose alongside head coach Laura Beeman following a Senior Night win over CSUF. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

 

HONOLULU – A performance fit for celebration.

A group deserving of even more.

The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team completed their home watch of the Big West on Saturday night, cruising to a 67-49 demolition of Cal State Fullerton (16-12, 12-6 Big West) inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

The final home game in the last Rainbow Wahine run as a member of the Big West, senior forwards Saniyah Neverson, Imani Perez and Izzy Forsyth helped Hawai’i (18-10, 12-6 Big West) win its sixth straight contest and for the 12th time in the last 13 games in their own island finales.

Neverson paced UH with 12 points, seven rebounds and a season-high four assists while adding a steal and historic rejection in the second quarter as the 2026 edition of the Rainbow Wahine set a new single-season program record with their 164th denial of the year.

Entering the evening needing five to tie the all-time mark and six to set a new record, Hawai’i finished the game with nine blocks as a team. It was the 18th time this season that the Rainbow Wahine recorded at least five rejections in a game.

Imani Perez, the lone UH senior to spend all four years of her college career in the islands, tallied eight points, six rebounds and two more blocks in her final time suiting up in the Stan Sheriff Center. The 6-foot-4 forward from Colorado has quietly made herself one of the all-time great Rainbow Wahine, racking up nearly 800 points to go along with 532 rebounds and 120 blocked shots as she heads into her final regular season week with the program.

“I always say if someone is in your life and they’re worth enough for you to cry over, both of you guys have done something great,” Hawai’i head coach Laura Beeman said while talking about Perez. “I’ve shed a lot of tears over that kid, and I’m more than happy to do it again.”

Izzy Forsyth, who has continually worked her way back from a knee injury that stole her 2023-24 season at UC San Diego, made her first start for the Rainbow Wahine in her final game inside the Stan Sheriff Center and scored eight points (2-3 3PT) in 15 minutes of action.

“We’re so fortunate that they all decided to come here,” Beeman said glowingly of her senior trio. “Imani for four years, what an amazing story. And then for Saniyah and Izzy, just to come here their last year … it was like they played for us for four years, honestly. They are amazing young women and to walk in here in a year and do what they’ve done in our locker room, within our team, it just feels like they’ve been with us from Day 1.”

Hawai’i took a two-point lead after the first quarter of play thanks to Forsyth’s first 3-pointer of the night and a Ritorya Tamilo block of a last-second try from behind the arc. The rejection by Tamilo was the fifth of the opening frame and the 163rd of the year by the Rainbow Wahine, tying the program’s single-season record.

Imani Perez got on the board with a pair of triples to open the second quarter, part of a 3-point onslaught by the Rainbow Wahine that saw the hosts go 7-for-13 from long range in the first half. Rebecca Moors and Kyra Webb got in on the sweet-shooting fun before Saniyah Neverson sent Hawai’i into halftime leading by 11.

Hawai’i extended the lead out to 20 when play resumed in the third, seeing Forsyth and Neverson each drain another triple before a few Tamilo finishes put the Rainbow Wahine in cruise control.

Underclassmen drove the final 10 minutes for the Rainbow Wahine, seeing Bailey Flavell, Keiara Curtis, Ritorya Tamilo, Kyra Webb and Rebecca Moors combine for 12 of the final 14 points by UH. Perez was the lone basket from outside the youth group, scoring one last jumper in the Stan before exiting to a bear hug from Laura Beeman and a standing ovation from the crowd in house.

Ritorya Tamilo joined Neverson as the only Rainbow Wahine players in double figures on the night, racking up 10 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks in 16 minutes off the bench. Keiara Curtis added eight points while Rebecca Moors chipped in a season-high seven points in seven minutes of action.

Freshman guard Bailey Flavell did a little bit of everything for Hawai’i in the win, scoring six points, grabbing seven rebounds and handing out four assists. Kyra Webb tacked on six points, four boards and a block as well in 15 minutes of work for UH.

The win knotted the Rainbow Wahine with Cal State Fullerton for fourth in the Big West standings with two games left in the regular season. The top four seeds will get a first-round bye in the conference tournament in Henderson in two weeks.

“I think we’re playing better basketball, obviously,” Beeman said when asked about the statement the Rainbow Wahine made in their final weekend at home this season. “I think we’re peaking at the right time. We have two more huge games on the road, and then we’re going to go to the tournament. Let’s hope that we just continue to play well at the tournament.”

Hawai’i hits the road next week to wrap up the regular season, visiting UC Riverside on Thursday, March 5 before heading to Long Beach State for the final time as conference opponents on Saturday, March 7. A road trip sweep would deliver the Rainbow Wahine their third straight 20-win season and fourth in the last five years.

Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses

Hawai‘i Football Continues to Build as Fall Camp Progresses

Aug 13, 2026

MĀNOA - The University of Hawai‘i football team continues to work its way through fall camp with head coach Timmy Chang encouraged by the progress he’s seeing across the roster. With the season opener drawing closer, the Rainbow Warriors remain...

Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Walker, Rainbow Wahine Building Identity Ahead of First Exhibitions

Aug 12, 2026

Nearly two weeks into preseason camp, first-year University of Hawai‘i women’s volleyball head coach Joshua Walker likes what he’s seeing from the Rainbow Wahine. Walker joined Hawai‘i Sports Radio Network ahead of the team’s first exhibitions of...

Tracking the Hawaii men’s basketball 2026-27 schedule

Tracking the Hawaii men’s basketball 2026-27 schedule

Aug 12, 2026

HONOLULU – A new season on the hardwood is right around the corner, fit with fresh new conference memberships and tournament bracket designs. The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team embarks on its first season in the Mountain West in...

ADVERTISEMENT