Men's Basketball Late Comeback Against Hawaii Falls Short

Saturday, December 11

Honolulu, HI

7:05 (HST)

Saint Mary's College of California

at Hawai'i

Men's Basketball Late Comeback Against Hawaii Falls Short

12/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Dec. 12, 2004

Box Score

Honolulu, HI - The Saint Mary's men's basketball team suffered an 84-77 loss to the University of Hawaii on Saturday night in front of 7,518 fans at the Stan Sherriff Center in Honolulu, HI. Junior forward Daniel Kickert who had 22 points and eight rebounds led the Gaels. The Gaels fall to 6-4 on the season while Hawaii improves to 5-0.

Four players scored in double figures for Saint Mary's. Kickert, who led the way for SMC with 22 points, also led the Gaels with eight rebounds. Joining Kickert in double figures were Brett Collins with 15, and Frederic Adjiwanou and E.J. Rowland added 11 points each. Collins' 15 points matched his career-high, when he scored 15 against Cal earlier this season.

Paul Marigney and Erik Bond made their first appearances of the season against Hawaii. Bond entered the game at the 12-minute mark of the first half, while Marigney took the floor 10 minutes into the game.

The Gaels shot 43.1 percent from the field, making 28-of-65 attempts from the floor. SMC converted on just 4-of-15 attempts from 3-point range, but struggled from the free throw line, shooting 68.0 percent on 17-of-25 shooting. The Gaels were out rebounded by the Rainbow Warriors 34-33.

With the score tied at 15-15 at the 11:41 mark of the first half, Hawaii used a 5-0 run to open a 20-15 advantage. After the quick run by the Rainbow Warriors, Saint Mary's rolled off a 12-4 run to take a 27-24 lead. The Gaels took the lead when Brett Collins stole a Deonte Tatum pass and finished with a dunk.

Following the Gaels run, Hawaii used an 8-0 run to open its lead to 32-27 with 3:52 remaining in the half following a basket by Bobby Nash. After Jonathan Sanders hit a free throw to end the drought, Hawaii took its biggest lead of the half when Julian Sensley scored his 15th point of the half with 2:31 left to the intermission. The Rainbow Warriors finished the first half with a 14-2 run and led 38-29 at the break.

The second half opened with a steal and dunk by E.J. Rowland. Hawaii scored the next four points to extend its lead to double digits (42-31) following back-to-back baskets by Jeff Blackett. After baskets by Kickert and Adjiwanou cut the lead to seven, UH answered with baskets by Blackett and Matt Gibson to regain its 11-point lead with 15:23 left to play.

SMC cut the lead to 50-41 following a 3-point play by Rolland at the 13:46 mark, but Hawaii used a 6-0 run over the next two minutes to extend its lead to 56-41 with 11:47 remaining. After Hawaii extended its lead to 69-54 following a basket by Sensley, the Gaels used a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 69-59 after a 3-point play by Kickert with 4:49 left to play. Rowland had a chance to cut the deficit to single digits, but miss a lay-up on a break away.

The Gaels caught fire late in the game as they cut the Rainbow Warriors' lead to 76-71 following back-to-back threes by Collins and Jason Walberg and a long jumper from Marigney with 48 seconds remaining.

The Saint Mary's men's basketball team will return to action on Tuesday, December 14 at San Diego State. The game against the Aztecs will tip-off at 7:05 p.m. from the Cox Arena. The game can also be heard live on the radio at KDIA AM-1640 and on the Internet at www.SMCGaels.com.