HILO, Hawai'i – Just one game removed from a thrilling 67-66 victory, Azusa Pacific was on the wrong end of a game-winning three point shot. Hawai'i Hilo defeated the visiting Cougars 82-79 on Monday night, as Vulcan guard Jordan Graves nailed a triple from the top of the key with three seconds remaining in each team's PacWest conference opener.

Azusa Pacific looked to have control of the game for most of the first half, as the Cougars held leads as big as 11 points through the first 20 minutes of action. With 4:41 left before halftime, Azusa Pacific held a 36-25 lead. Hilo would get back into the game by closing out the half on a 14-6 run to cut the Cougar lead to 42-39 at halftime.

The Vulcans took their first lead of the contest at 18:09 in the second half, when Graves knocked down a three-pointer to put Hilo up 44-43. The second half turned into a shootout, as there were six lead changes and no lead larger than six points. Azusa Pacific's final lead was at 58-57, with 11:37 remaining in regulation.

Trailing by six points at 78-72 with a little over two and a half minutes remaining in the game, Azusa Pacific made a late push to try and get back into the game. Down 79-75 with 57 seconds remaining, the Cougars would cut the deficit down to just one possession when Brennan Rymer found Selom Mawugbe for a dunk to make the score 79-77 with 30 seconds left. Azusa Pacific would force a Hilo turnover and foul on the ensuing possession, and Jake Spurgeon went to the line and knocked down two free throws to tie the game at 79-79.

The Vulcans put the ball in Graves' hands, as he ultimately drilled the game-winner following a step-back at the top-of-the-arc that gave him plenty of separation from the nearest Cougar defender. Following the bucket, Azusa Pacific immediately inbounded the ball to Rymer, who was unable to get a quality look at the basket as the buzzer sounded.

With the loss, the Cougars are now 5-2 overall and 0-1 in PacWest play. Spurgeon led the Cougars with 28 points and five rebounds, while Mawugbe recorded his fifth double-double of the season 23 points and 10 rebounds. Terrence Becvar also scored in double figures for Azusa Pacific, as he finished with 14 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the floor and 5-for-6 from the charity stripe. Three Vulcans scored 20 or more points, as Graves led the way with 26 points, while Sasa Vuksanovich and Kupaa Harrison each scored 22 points.

Azusa Pacific continues its trip in the Hawaiian islands, as the Cougars take on Chaminade on Wednesday, December 4, followed by a meeting with Hawai'i Pacific on Friday, December 6.