Box Score Box Score

HONOLULU – Defense proved to be the key for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team as it captured the 2001 Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic, with a 54-44 victory over Georgia, Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The championship was the team's seventh in the 38-year history of the prestigious eight-team tournament.

In UH's three victories, the team limited their opponents to 56.0 points per game and 35.6 percent shooting from the field. In Saturday's championship game, Hawai'i held the Bulldogs' potent offense to 29.3 percent shooting, including a 6-for-31 performance in the second half.

Tournament Most Outstanding Player Haim Shimonovich scored six points, grabbed 12 rebounds and had two blocks in the title game. In the three UH victories, the sophomore center averaged 9.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and proved to be a dominant presence in the post.

Guard Predrag Savovic led the Rainbow Warriors with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field. The senior averaged 18.0 points per game during the week and sank eight 3-pointers in earning all-tournament team honors. Forward Phil Martin recorded 13 points and 13 rebounds, in posting his second double-double of the tournament.

The first half featured seven lead changes and five ties. UH edged ahead with a Shimonovich basket followed by a Savovic fast-break lay-up to take a 24-23 lead with 3:40 remaining. On Georgia's ensuing possession, Jonas Hayes was charged with a technical foul after knocking down Savovic after a rebound, which enraged Georgia coach Jim Harrick and energized the crowd for the remainder of the game. Still the Bulldogs entered the half with a 28-24 lead.

UH picked up its defense in the second half forcing the Bulldogs to miss its first 12 shots of the period and go without a bucket until 9:55 remaining in the game. Georgia still managed to stick around with the 'Bows. Tony Cole hit his first 3-pointer of the game to pull the Bulldogs to within 40-36 with just over 6:00 to play. After Burneika made one free throw, Ezra Williams pulled up for his third trey of the game to cut UH's lead to 41-39.

Savovic's 3-pointer with 2:35 left inched UH's lead to 46-41. After Georgia failed to score on consecutive possessions, Shimonovich's putback off a Savovic miss with 1:40 remaining gave the 'Bows a seven-point cushion. Jarvis Williams' 3-pointer at :56.6 cut the deficit to 48-44 but Campbell and Savovic sealed the game with two free throws each down the stretch.

Also named to the all-tournament team were Williams, Alex Shorts of Miami (Ohio), Jason Jennings of Arkansas State, and Troy Bell of Boston College.

In earlier action, Iona edged Miami (Ohio), 57-51, in the third place game, No. 10 Boston College defeated Holy Cross, 67-57, for the consolation championship and Arkansas State slipped past Portland, 77-74, for seventh place.

Hawai'i enters Western Athletic Conference play with its best record since the 1999-2000 season when it started the year 11-2. The 'Bows meet defending WAC regular season champion, Fresno State, Thursday, Dec. 27 in the conference opener. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.



-uh-