Box Score Box Score
HONOLULU – Hawai'i used a tenacious defense to defeat Nevada, 58-40, Saturday night, at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors took sole possession of first place in the Western Athletic Conference with the victory and improved to 11-2, 2-0, marking the first time since the 1993-94 season that the team started the WAC season with consecutive victories.
UH limited the Wolf Pack to a season-low total in points and a field goal percentage of 29.6, forced 18 turnovers, had 10 steals and blocked seven shots. Nevada scored just 16 points in the decisive second half, while the 'Bows torched the nets with 33 points on 12-of-21 shooting.
Senior guard Predrag Savovic scored a game-high 18 points with a career best five 3-pointers. With 8:28 to play in the first half, Savovic became the ninth player in UH history to score 1,000 career points with his second trey of the game.
No other UH player was in double figures in the game, as the 'Bows scored under 60 points for the fourth time this season. Forwards Phil Martin and Mindaugas Burneika each had eight points. Terrance Green led Nevada with 18 points.
The 'Bows put it together eight minutes into the game after Nevada raced out to a 15-8 lead. Consecutive 3-pointers by Savovic closed the deficit to 15-14 and his third trey temporarily gave UH a 19-18 lead. After the Wolf Pack forged ahead 24-22, Savovic's fourth 3-pointer of the half with 0:37 remaining, gave the 'Bows a 25-24 halftime lead.
A Mark Campbell bucket followed by Savovic's fifth trey and Martin's turnaround jumper put Hawai'i ahead 32-24, just three minutes into the second half. But the Wolf Pack cut the lead in half on a pair of free throws by Green with 12:23 remaining. From there, the 'Bows went on a 13-4 run, fueled by two Burneika 3-pointers and a pair of McIntyre jumpers to increase it's lead to double-digits. Over the final 7:51 of the game, Hawai'i held Nevada to just six points.
UH travels to the mainland for the first time this season when they meet UTEP, Jan. 3 and Boise State, Jan. 5.
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