Box Score Box Score

HONOLULU -- University of Hawai'i tri-captain Predrag Savovic returned to the lineup, Friday night, but couldn't help the Rainbow Warriors avoid a 61-58 setback to former Western Athletic Conference rival San Diego State, at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Savovic, who sat out the first seven games due to an NCAA suspension, missed his first six shots of the game, including all five in the first half to finish with 12 points in 33 minutes. Overall he was 2-for-13 from the field and 1-of-6 from beyond the 3-point arc.

As a team, Hawai'i shot just 31.5 percent and missed 11-of-12 from long range. In comparison, San Diego State shot 50 percent in the second half to overcome a seven-point halftime deficit.

Still the `Bows had a chance to send the game into overtime. With :17.9 remaining, SDSU's Tommy Johnson made one of two free throws to give the Aztecs a 61-58 lead. As time was running down, guard Mike McIntyre launched a 3-point attempt from the left baseline, which rimmed out.

For the seventh time in eight games, guard Carl English led the team in scoring, posting 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Center Haim Shimonovich finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. The two combined to shoot 12-of-20 while the rest of the team was 5-of-34 from the field.

UH took a quick 15-4 lead seven minutes into the first half. The `Bows increased its lead to 21-8 at 7:07 remaining when English put in a driving baseline lay-up. But SDSU used a 7-0 run to close to within 21-15 with just under 5:00 to play in the half. UH took a 26-19 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, Savovic broke out of his shooting slump hitting his first basket of the season, a breakaway lay-up, at 16:11 giving UH a 31-24 lead.

SDSU's Randy Holcomb hit a 3-pointer close the deficit to 43-40. Tony Bland's jumper at 5:49 brought the Aztecs to within 47-46 and gave his team its first lead when Al Faux stripped Campbell of the ball and went coast to coast Holcomb's dunk over Phil Martin and ensuing free throw gave SDSU a 51-47 lead with just over 5:00 to play.

Savovic hit his first 3-pointer of the game at 2:20 to close the gap to 54-52 but Faux responded with a 3-pointer of his own at 1:43 put SDSU ahead 57-52. Burneika's bucket off Shimonovich pass under the basket pulled UH to within 57-54 at the 1:09 mark.

Holcomb's free throw made it 58-54 with :39 to play but nine seconds later, English's driving lay-up brought the deficit back to two. UH fouled Deandre Moore, who subsequently missed both free throws but Johnson's rebounded and putback put the Aztecs ahead by four, 60-56. On the ensuing possession, English pushed the ball up the court and found Campbell for UH's final basket.

Hawai'i next hosts the annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic, Dec. 19-22. First up for the `Bows is Portland, Dec. 19. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.



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