Working inside-out, the University of Hawaii at Hilo men’s basketball team hit it big on opening night.
Tre Williams scored 24 points Friday night in his Vulcans debut, a 89-81 victory against Northwest Nazarene in Bellingham, Wash.
The Vulcans were ahead by eight at halftime, and their lead grew to as many as 20 points as they shot 20 of 28 from the field in the second half. They shot 59.6 percent for the game.
“We got great looks when we went inside-out,” coach GE Coleman said.
Williams, a 6-foot-8 junior, was 8 of 11 from the floor and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line.
Junior guard Marcello Campbell came off the bench to score 18 points for the Vulcans, who got 40 points from their reserves.
“Whenever you can get 40 points off the bench it’s a good thing,” Coleman said. “With all 10 guys that played, it’s credit to the quality of depth that we’ve brought in to the program.”
Darnell Williams collected 13 points while Vandyon Lockett added 12 points and five assists. Lockett’s jumper with 6:53 remaining in the game capped a 20-7 run that gave the Vulcans their largest lead, 75-55.
Aubrey Ball scored 16 points and Kevin Rima added 13 points and 10 rebounds for Northwest Nazarene.
The Vulcans used their shooting to overcome 20 turnovers, but Coleman warned they’d have to clean up their play Saturday when the face No. 9 Western Washington, which belted Notre Dame de Namur 78-52 in the other game at the Chuck Randall Classic.
“We won’t be able to turn the ball over that way against them,” Coleman said.