Lucas hit five of seven 3-pointers en route to a team-high 17 points to lead second-ranked Hawaii Pacific past Georgetown, Ky., 88-70, in yesterday's second round of the NAIA Tournament. All five Sea Warrior starters were in double figures as HPU (26-3) advanced to today's noon quarterfinal against Pennsylvania's Point Park (22-7).
"I felt good about my outside shots and Coach (Tony Sellitto) said to keep shooting," said Lucas, son of Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry Lucas. "If we play tough defense and play together like we did today, we're going home with a ring."
That won't be the case with Hawaii's other NAIA team, Brigham Young-Hawaii. The Seasiders (21-8) were eliminated by top-seeded Life of Georgia, 81-65.
It is the third time in five years the Sea Warriors have reached the quarterfinals; they won the tournament in 1993. HPU showed its balance and depth with double-double performances from Juergen Malbeck (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Llewellyn Smalley (14 points, 11 rebounds); Robert Parker added 16 points and Steve Richey 13.
"I look at this game and wonder how we could have played any better," HPU coach Tony Sellitto said. "There were timeouts when I didn't go into the huddle. No sense acting like you're coaching when you're not. I honestly feel this was the best overall game from any team that has played for me.
"Juergen and J.J. played unbelieveable. Our bench was terrific, especially Scott Kato (4 rebounds in 5 minutes) and Marco Johnson (5 points in 4 minutes). They enabled us to rest our starters, which will be important (today). Point Park's two best players played the whole game and those kind of minutes three days in a row could be a factor.
"Having Robert Parker back full strength (after a bout with the flu) was the difference between our first game and tonight. He destroyed Georgetown by himself in the first couple of minutes."
HPU opened the game with a 20-7 run with Parker scoring 10 points in the opening 7:20. Georgetown got as close as 10 points before intermission on a basket by Gary Henderson (28 points) with 7.5 seconds remaining but Richey's layup right before the buzzer gave HPU a 47-35 halftime lead.
The Sea Warriors extended their lead in the second half to 25, with their largest advantage coming at 78-53 on Malbeck's second consecutive dunk with 4:19 to play.
The victory was the Sea Warriors' 13th in their last 14 outings.
Life 81, BYU-Hawaii 65: The Running Eagles (34-1) used a 22-4 run to break a second-half tie and pull away from BYU-Hawaii for good. The Running Eagles face Birmingham-Southern (Ala.) today.
The unseeded Seasiders were led by Ionatana Enosa, who came off the bench for 24 points and 11 rebounds. Junior forward Pa'ulasi Matavao added 13 rebounds but was held to just five points.
Demitrius Palmer and Tyrone Gainer each scored 16 for Life.
The Seasiders took a 20-15 lead on a jumper by Bret Barton midway through the first half, but Life rallied to lead, 36-33, at halftime. The Eagles put on a 22-4 run to start the second half and never looked back.
Hawaii Pacific 88, Georgetown (Ky.) 70Hawaii Pacific: Smalley 6-10 1-1 14, Richey 4-13 5-8 13, Parker 7-11 0-0 16, Lucas 6-9 0-0 17, Malbeck 5-7 6-9 16, Harris 0-3 2-2 2, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Flowers 0-1 0-0 0, Kato 1-2 0-1 2, Johnson 2-2 0-0 5, Nolan 0-0 0-0 0, Reincke 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 32-59 14-21 88.
Georgetown: Gullett 0-1 0-0 0, Shee 3-7 1-1 8, Hoskins 5-10 0-0 12, Schoen 4-12 2-6 13, Fawns 1-4 1-2 3, Henderson 10-16 8-12 28, Covington 2-5 0-0 5, Powers 0-1 0-0 0, Mindoljevic 0-4 1-2 1, Cox 0-1 0-0 0, Ward 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-61 13-23 70.
Halftime--Hawaii Pacific 47, Georgetown 35.
3-point goals--HPU 10-22 (Lucas 5-7, Paker 2-6, Johnson 1-1, Reincke 1-1, Smalley 1-4, Richey 0-1, Harris 0-2), GC 7-16 (Schoen 3-9, Hoskins 2-4, Covington 1-4, Shee 1-5, Powers 0-1, Mindoljevic 0-3). Fouled out--Schoen. Rebounds--HPU 43 (Smalley 11, Malbeck 10, Lucas 6), GC 30 (Schoen 7, Hoskins 6, Henderson 6). Assists--HPU 17 (Richey 4, Smalley 3, Malbeck 3, Harris 3), GC 15 (Hoskins 5). Steals--HPU 3 (Richey 2), GC 4 (Schoen 2). Turnovers--HPU 10 (Smalley 3), GC 5 (Fawns 2, Henderson 2). Blocked shots--HPU 0, GC 0. Total fouls--HPU 19, GC 21.
Life 81, Brigham Young-Hawaii 65
BYU-Hawaii (21-8): Smith 3-3 1-2 7, Alves 2-4 0-0 5, Akana 1-9 1-2 3, Bates 3-7 1-2 7, Matavao 2-4 1-2 5, Enosa 6-12 12-14 24, Barton 3-11 0-0 7, Fripp 0-3 3-5 3, Joyce 0-2 0-0 0, Isom 1-1 0-0 2, Throckmorton 1-2 0-0 2, Boyce 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-58 19-27 65.
Life (34-1): Palmer 6-7 2-3 16, Amiley 4-13 0-0 8, A. Maxwell 1-4 2-2 5, Harris 1-3 5-6 7, Carrington 4-8 0-1 8, Lewis 4-10 2-2 12, Gainer 7-10 1-5 16, Wright 2-7 0-1 4, M. Maxwell 0-5 1-2 1, Sanders 0-2 0-0 2, Mann 0-0 3-4 3, Folston 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 30-69 17-28 81.
Halftime--Life 36, BYU-Hawaii 33.
3-point goals--BYUH 2-16 (Alves 1-3, Barton 1-7, Joyce 0-1, Fripp 0-1, Akana 0-4), LC 4-14 (Palmer 2-2, A. Maxwell 1-2, Gainer 1-1, Carrington 0-1, Lewis 0-1, Wright 0-1, Smiley 0-6). Fouled out--None. Rebounds--BYUH 48 (Matavao 13, Enosa 11), LC 36 (Lewis 7, Harris 6). Assists--BYUH 12 (Akana 5), LC 16 (Lewis 5). Steals--BYUH 13 (Akana 4), LC 22 (Gainer 6, A. Maxwell 4). Turnovers--BYUH 30 (Alves 9, Akana 5), LC 19 (Harris 5, Smiley 4). Blocked shots--BYUH 2 (Smith 1, Enosa 1), LC 2 (Harris 1, Sanders 1). Total fouls--BYUH 21, LC 21.
Yesterday's results
Cumberland, Ky. 53, Dillard, La. 50
Central Washington 87, Azusa Pacific 76
Birmingham-Southern 73, Southeastern Oklahoma 67
Life 81, Brigham Young-Hawaii 65
Point Park 71, Claflin, S.C. 70
Hawaii Pacific 88, Georgetown, Ky. 70
Oklahoma Baptist 41, Biola, Calif. 38
McKendree, Ill. 76, Findlay, Ohio 70
Today's games
Central Washington (18-12) vs. Cumberland, Ky. (30-6), 8 a.m.
Birmingham-Southern (28-5) vs. Life (34-1), 10 a.m.
Point Park (22-7) vs. Hawaii Pacific (26-3), noon
Okla. Baptist (34-3) vs. McKendree, Ill. (28-8), 2 p.m.
Tomorrow's games
Central Washington-Cumberland, Ky. winner vs. Birmingham Southern-Life winner, 2 p.m.
Point Park-Hawaii Pacific winner vs. Oklahoma Baptist-McKendree, 4 p.m.
Monday's game
Semifinal winners, 3 p.m.