Box Score Box Score
HONOLULU – In a classic match-up that typified the Hawai'i-Fresno State rivalry, the Rainbow Warriors pulled out an exhausting 83-73 victory, Thursday night, in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams. A season-high Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 9,175 saw the 'Bows improve to 10-2, 1-0 WAC.
The Bulldogs were playing without All-America candidate Melvin Ely, who was serving the final game of his six-game NCAA-mandated suspension. Hawai'i took advantage of his absence as post players Haim Shimonovich, Phil Martin, and Mindaugas Burneika combined to shut down Fresno State's Hiram Fuller, who fouled out, and Noel Felix, who made just 3-of-10 shots from the field.
Hawai'i was led by guard Predrag Savovic and forward Carl English. The two combined to score 45 points and seven 3-pointers. Savovic (23) also grabbed six rebounds and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line. English (22) connected on 5-of-7 treys and recorded six rebounds and five assists.
“It was a good win over a good team,” head coach Riley Wallace said of UH's victory over the preseason WAC favorite. “Our team is getting tougher as we get along and we're really getting better as a team.”
Burneika came off the bench to score 12 points while Martin added 10 points, all in the first half. Chris Jefferies led the Bulldogs with 21 points and nine rebounds.
As a team, the 'Bows connected on a season-high nine 3-pointers.
In the first half, the 'Bows erased an 8-4 deficit to jump ahead 11-8. The Bulldogs answered with a 5-0 run to retake the lead before UH answered with their own 7-0 spurt to go up 18-15. With Hawai'i holding a 27-21 lead, the Bulldogs converted on three consecutive baskets to tie the score with just over 5:00 to play in the half.
A Savovic putback off a missed Campbell 3-point attempt gave the 'Bows a slight advantage before Travis DeManby raced downcourt for a fastbreak lay-up. Felix's slam-dunk gave the Bulldogs the lead at 31-30, but Savovic answered with a lay-up. Mustafa Al-Sayyad's 12-foot jumper and Chris Sandy's free throw gave the Bulldogs its last lead of the game at 34-32. Martin tied the score off a feed from McIntyre with just over 2:00 to play and Campbell ended the scoring with his first 3-pointer of the season giving UH a 37-34 halftime cushion.
English opened the second half with a trey and after a Jefferies jumper in the lane, Savovic converted a 3-point play giving the 'Bows a 45-36 lead. Consecutive Bulldog baskets cut the UH lead to four but Hawai'i answered with lay-ups by English and Shimonovich to push its lead back to nine.
English hit his fifth trey at 13:16 to give UH a 55-44 lead. But after Jefferies converted a 3-point play with 11:12 remaining, the 'Bows saw its lead cut to six at 57-51. Burneika and Jefferies traded free throws, and when Jefferies finished a fastbreak jam, Fresno State cut the deficit to 58-54.
After two Sandy free throws brought he Bulldogs to within 63-60 with 7:18 to play, Savovic and Burneika answered with treys to give UH a 69-60 advantage. Jackson's second trey in a minute cut 'Bows' lead to seven but that would be the closest Fresno State would get.
“Down the stretch, Carl and Savo created things,” Wallace said. “If you can create things off the dribble that makes you a good ball club. When Carl and Savo have that kind of energy it's going to make it tough to beat us.”
Hawai'i next hits the court against Nevada, Saturday, Dec. 29. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Wolf Pack were 91-85 overtime winners over San Jose State, Thursday night.
-uh-
