Chaminade stuns Oklahoma in Maui Invitational 68-64

By Star-Advertiser Staff

POSTED: 11:31 a.m. HST, Nov 24, 2010

Steven Bennett made the go-ahead layup and Mamadou Diarra hit two clutch free throws with 8 seconds left to lead Chaminade over Oklahoma 68-64 in the seventh-place game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Division II Chaminade (4-2), the tournament host, got their first win in their signature tournament since knocking off Princeton in 2007.

The Silverswords got huge performances from Bennett, their lightning-quick point guard (14 points, four assists), Diarra (15 points, 11 rebounds), and especially sharpshooter Shane Hanson (23 points, five 3-pointers).

The Sooners trailed 62-53 with 5 minutes left, but got three straight 3-pointers from Cade Davis to tie it up with 3:05 to play.

After three straight timeouts, Bennett's drive from the top of the key to his right with 1:55 left was the difference

Chaminade improved to 6-73 all-time in the Maui Invitational, which started in 1984.

The Silverswords threatened No. 2 Michigan State in the first round on Monday, but couldn't hang on in an 82-74 loss. In the consolation semifinals, the 'Swords cut a 20-point Wichita State lead to six in the second half but couldn't get all the way back.

Oklahoma (3-3) of the Big 12 Conference went 0-3 in the tournament. Davis led OU with a game-high 24 points.