HONOLULU, HI – Menlo Men's Basketball fought until the final buzzer in an intense PacWest showdown but ultimately fell just short against the Sharks of Hawaii Pacific, 71-74. The Oaks showcased their resilience, battling through a game with multiple lead changes and momentum swings.
Menlo's Key Contributors
It was a dog fight the entire 40 minutes, led by the following Oaks…
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Patrick Ryan led the Oaks with a game-high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting while grabbing 6 rebounds and adding a steal.
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Nick Davidson delivered a near double-double with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals while playing a team-high 39 minutes.
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Landon Seaman contributed 17 points, 2 assists, and a block, proving to be a dominant force in the paint. Landon continues to stand tall in the Conference leaderboards across the board. He is currently #2 in scoring (20.6 avg.), #4 in rebounding (7.8 avg.), and #3 in field-goal percentage (.542).
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Jonathan Moxie played a key role defensively, recording 3 steals and 3 assists while chipping in 5 points.
Down to the Wire
Menlo opened strong, taking a 32-29 lead into halftime behind efficient shooting and tenacious defense. The Oaks forced 11 turnovers and turned them into 14 points, while also dominating the paint with 44 points inside.
The second half saw both teams trading buckets in a high-energy battle. Menlo outscored Hawaii Pacific in the paint and at the free-throw line, converting 13-of-15 foul shots. However, Hawaii Pacific's three-point shooting down the stretch proved to be the difference-maker, as they connected on nine triples to keep the Oaks from completing the comeback.
Despite the narrow loss, Menlo's performance highlighted their ability to compete with top PacWest programs. The Oaks' defensive pressure, rebounding effort, and ability to capitalize on turnovers will be key strengths as they look ahead to their next matchup.
Up Next….
Menlo Men's Basketball will return to action hungry for redemption, ready to turn this close contest into motivation for the road ahead. With a 9-9 overall record, the Oaks are looking ahead to break .500 on Saturday, February 1st at 9:30pm PST at Hawaii Hilo.
