The Silverswords - still famous for slaying college basketball giants in decades past - were threatening to serve up another huge upset.
But then reality charged into the opening game of the Maui Invitational today as the bigger and stronger Massachusetts Minutemen finally rode off to a 59-48 victory.
Chaminade, with its followers going bonkers in the quaint Lahaina Civic Center gym, held the lead most of the first half until 15th-ranked UMass put together a 15-5 run in the final five minutes to lead, 32-23, at the intermission.
It was the Division I head coaching debut for UMass' James "Bruiser" Flint and the first game at Chaminade for Al Walker.
Chaminade broke the full-court pressure of the Minutemen in the early going and managed to keep the deadly guard duo of Carmelo Travieso and Edgar Padilla under wraps.
UMass started using its muscle advantage under the basket to finally pull away.
Tyrone Weeks, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound senior forward, had 12 points in the first half for UMass to lead all scorers.
Guard Darnell Clavon led Chaminade in the first 20 minutes with 10 points.
Travieso was held to seven points on three-of-seven shooting, while Padilla was a dismal one-of-six from the floor with only three first-half points.
The two guards were also held to a combined two-of-eight from three-point land in the first half.
The Minutemen made up for it on the boards, though, and held a 23-12 advantage at the half, including a 12-3 margin on the offensive end.
UMass continued to hold off the 'Swords in the second half. Weeks kept using his wide body to bust up the Chaminade in the paint. He had a career-high 17 points and 12 rebounds with eight minutes remaining as the Minutemen led, 44-31.
Travieso knocked in a runner about a minute later to give the visitors a 15-point advantage.
But the Silverswords refused to surrender and a three-point basket by William Antonio cut the lead to nine with five minutes left in the game.
An angry Flint called a timeout, but Chaminade kept hanging around.
Clavon knocked down a three-pointer - giving him 16 points - to cut the lead to 10, 55-45, with 2:45 left. He hit another three-pointer with 20 seconds left to finish with 19. Travieso scored 17 points for UMass.