HONOLULU, Hawai'i – You couldn't have asked for a better way to start conference play on the road in a tough place to win.

Joshua Caston scored 23 points and recently named PacWest Player of the Week Wayne Arnold added 22 to lead Concordia University Irvine past Hawaii Pacific University on Monday night, 71-54.

The Green and Gold never trailed in their first meeting of the year with HPU and that's three straight victories now for the CUI men's basketball team in a span of just six days.

"That was the best conference-opening effort we've had since our transition to D2," said CUI head coach Ken Ammann. "I'm extremely proud of the way our guys prepared for this game and they really competed well.  If we can defend like that on a consistent basis, we will be a hard out."

Seventeen was the final margin of victory but 11 was the magic number for the Eagles.

Arnold scored 11 of his 22 points before halftime and the Eagles ironically led by a 30-19 margin at the break. Arnold entered Monday as the nation's leading scorer with a 27.7 ppg scoring average and he stayed consistent, adding 11 more points in the second half to finish with at least 22 points for the seventh straight contest.

But it was not a one-man show.  Eleven different Eagles contributed in the conference opener and CUI seized control of the contest early in the second half when Caston got into a groove. The guard from Virginia Beach, Va. scored eight straight points after the break and then sank another trey and a layup as part of a 17-2 run that effectively put the game out of reach.

"Caston was sensational in both halves and his experience really showed tonight as well for us," added Ammann.

CUI led by as many as 54-27 and cruised from there. The bench combined for a dozen points and 11 rebounds with Cameron Fini, Kobe Sanders and Matthew Brookins each converting at least one field goal.

The Eagles also sank 11 different three-pointers.  Arnold and Caston each drained four shots from downtown.

The Eagles continue their three-game road swing through the islands with a visit Wednesday to Chaminade. That game is set to tip at 9:30 p.m. PT after the women's teams square off at 7:30 p.m. PT

The next home contest is Thursday, Dec. 9 when CUI hosts Academy of Art for a PacWest Conference doubleheader.

CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's basketball schedule