Box Score Box Score

HILO, Hawai`i – Poor second half shooting by Hawai`i led to a disappointing 61-59 loss to Colorado State, Saturday night on Day 2 of the Big Island Invitational Tournament. After holding a 14 point halftime lead, the Rainbow Warriors shot just 26.3 percent in the second half and was held to only 17 points in losing for the first time this season.

Despite the dismal shooting, UH (3-1) still had a chance to send the game into overtime. After CSU's Brian Greene completed a 3-point play with :09 remaining, UH's Mark Campbell raced down court and passed to a wide-open Paul Jesinskis. However his 15-footer from the left baseline rimmed out as time expired.

For the second straight game and third time this season, five players scored in double-figures. Forward Carl English scored a team-high 13 points followed by senior Mindaugas Burneika with 12. Both were just 4-of-11 from the floor including a combined 4-of-12 from long distance. Center Haim Shimonovich, guard Mike Mike McIntyre, and newcomer Paul Jesinskis added 10 points apiece but the latter two did not score in the second half.

The Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium crowd of 687, watched as UH pulled out to a 14 point lead midway through the first half, in part of McIntyre's 10 straight points off the bench. Jesinskis scored 10 quick points, including his first two 3-pointers of his UH career. The `Bows maintained the double-digit lead for the remainder of the period and went into the locker room with a 42-28 cushion.

But in the second half, CSU's Andy Birley nearly single-handedly brought the Rams back, by hitting four consecutive 3-pointers to start the period. The `Bows didn't help themselves by going nearly 10:00 without a point. Altogether, CSU went on an 18-0 run from the15:14 mark to 5:59 to take its first lead of the game at 52-49.

From then, the lead changed hands five times and was tied on three other occasions. Trailing 58-57 with 1:23 to play, Burneika's lay-up gave the `Bows its last lead at 59-58. A traveling call by Greene gave the ball back to UH with 1:06 remaining. But the Rainbow Warriors could not get a clean shot off as the play clock expired setting up Greene's heroics.

The Rainbow Warriors will meet the Wisconsin/Weber State loser, Sunday, Nov. 25 in the BIIBT third place game. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. and will be aired live on KCCN 1420 AM.



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