The Hawaii collegiate basketball season opened with a shocker Monday night, as Division II Hawai‘i Pacific stunned Division I Boise State 79-78 on the road, one of the biggest wins in program history.
HPU, which captured an NAIA national championship in 1993 when the school was known as the Sea Warriors, took down a Broncos team that has reached five straight postseasons, including four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Junior guard Joshua West led the way for the Sharks, scoring 23 points, 16 of them in the first half as HPU held a 38-37 lead at the break. The Sharks traded blows with the Broncos in the second half before sealing the one-point victory in Boise.
It’s a signature moment for head coach Jesse Nakanishi and his squad, who return home for their season opener Saturday night against Nobel at “The Shark Tank.”