Box Score Box Score
HONOLULU -- In a ugly game that featured poor shooting, questionable calls, and players in foul trouble, the University of Hawai'i pulled out a 67-56 victory over Iona, Friday night in the semifinals of the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic. A Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 6,515 watched as the Rainbow Warriors advanced to their third consecutive Classic championship game and fourth in the past five years.
Hawai'i, the six-time tournament champions, will meet Georgia, Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs were 64-59 winners over Miami (Ohio) in the day's first semifinals. UH won the Classic title recently in 1997 and 1999 while Georgia won the tournament its only other appearance in 1996.
Sophomore Carl English scored a game-high 17 points, including a career-best 9-of-12 from the free throw line. English had an all-around game, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out seven assists in 38 minutes.
Center Haim Shimonovich played a big role for the 'Bows in the middle, scoring 16 points with six rebounds and a career-tying best five blocks. Guard Predrag Savovic added 11 points.
The first half was a sloppy affair, as both teams shot under 40 percent and were a combined 2-of-14 from 3-point range. The teams were also in foul trouble as Iona's Kenya Carruthers picked up four fouls and four UH players committed two each. In addition, the teams turned the ball over 18 times.
But the highlight of the half was the emergence of seldom-used walk-on Lance Takaki to the game with :48.7 to play. Takaki entered the game after staring point guard Mark Campbell picked up his second foul. The crowd erupted after Takaki took a pass from Carl English with :21 left and hit a 12-foot rainbow to give UH a 28-23 halftime lead. But with just one second to play, Takaki suffered a deep gash above his eye, which allowed another walk-on, Ryne Holliday, to see action.
The pace picked up in the second half until the teams hit a stalemate with just under 10:00 to play. Both teams combined to score 15 points in a span of 7:12. When the Gaels closed to within 51-38, Shimonovich helped the 'Bows increase its lead to double digits with a 7-0 run.
With UH leading 53-48, Shimonovich hit a jumper just outside the lane to put the 'Bows ahead by seven. Shimonovich grabbed a rebound on Iona's ensuing possession, then found Mike McIntyre for a wide-open 3-pointer giving UH a 58-48 lead with 2:35 left.
In earlier action, Holy Cross and No. 10 Boston College meet for the consolation championship. Holy Cross defeated Portland, 60-43, while Boston College edged Arkansas State, 76-70.
Iona and Miami (Ohio) meet the in the third place game at 5:00 p.m. That game as well as the championship game will be televised nationally on CNN/SI.
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