Tony Sellitto, who returned as Hawai'i Pacific head basketball coach this season after a premature retirement in 2002, won his 300th game yesterday when the Sea Warriors beat Coe College (Iowa), 79-72, at Blaisdell Arena.

The 69-year-old Sellitto, who previously coached HPU for 14 seasons starting in 1988, now has a collegiate coaching record of 300-139. Prior to joining HPU, where he also served as athletic director, Sellitto had a stellar 23-year coaching career at Maryknoll School.

Yesterday, Jeff Ingram scored 24 points, and Chris Evans and Mike Helton each added 15 for the Sea Warriors (5-3), who saw a 12-point lead (71-59) with 5:14 remaining shrink to four (76-72) with 39 seconds to play.

However, Helton, Ingram and Evans each sank one free throw and the Sea Warriors held the Kohawks (5-5) scoreless the rest of the way to give Sellitto his historic win.

Jacob Avilla, who entered in the first half when Jason Curtis left with a sprained ankle, added 10 points for HPU.

Alex Tatman scored 25 points, Kevin Gastner added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Kevin Dux contributed 11 points for Coe.

The Sea Warriors trailed by as many as seven points (23-16 with 11:08 to play) before Ingram sparked an 11-0 run with a pair of 3-pointers to help HPU take a 33-31 lead at the half.

HPU next plays Hillsdale College Friday at Blaisdell Arena. Tip off is 7:30 p.m.