Box Score Box Score

HONOLULU – Hawaii and SMU, the Western Athletic Conference's two undefeated teams faced off Saturday night and the Rainbow Warriors came out on top, 83-74, before a boisterous Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 9,041. Hawaii improved to 15-2 and its 6-0 WAC record is its best start ever in league play.

The 'Bows also extended its win streak to nine games, the third longest in the school's history.

Guard Predrag Savovic scored a team-high 22 points pacing five players in double-figures. Savovic hit 5-of-10 3-pointers, tying his career-high, and was instrumental in the team setting a school single-game record of 14. Forward Mindaugas Burneika set a new personal-high of four 3-pointers as he recorded 14 points off the bench. Guard Mike McIntyre had three treys en route to 17 points and Carl English added two to finish with 14 points.

Center Haim Shimonovich scored 10 points but more impressively, dished-out a career-high eight assists. As a team, the 'Bows shot 49.2 percent from the field, including a .517 clip from long range. Its 27 3-point attempts was a season best and highest since the team shot 33 times against Tulsa last season.

The game was fast-paced, as Hawaii cracked the 80-point barrier for just the fourth time this season, but was not sloppy. UH had just six turnovers in the game while the Mustangs turned the ball over just 10 times. The teams shot nearly 50 percent combined and neither was in foul trouble.

SMU guard Damon Hancock, the WAC's leading scorer, finished with a game-high 24 points, while freshman forward Patrick Simpson added 18 points and nine rebounds.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 15-8 lead on consecutive Eric Castro lay-ups and a Simpson dunk. But three straight UH 3-pointers, by English, Savovic, and Burneika, put UH back ahead as they would keep that lead until the second half. While holding a 28-19 advantage, SMU pulled to within three, capped by a Hancock fast break lay-up.

When Hancock's trey closed the deficit to two with 3:15 to play, Hawaii went on a 6-1 run to take a 40-33 lead into the half.

With Hawaii holding a slim 56-55 lead, Savovic hit a fall-away 3-pointer which banked off the glass as he was getting fouled. The shot was reminiscent of his shot late in UH's victory over Boise State last week, which also banked in. The Mustangs finally re-took the lead (61-60) on a Hancock jumper in the lane. Burneika answered putting the 'Bows back ahead.

A 7-2 run, capped by Shimonovich's turnaround jumper put UH up 70-63. The Mustangs kept in striking distance but would not get closer than three the rest of the way.

Hawaii begins a 10-day road trip next week where they will face San Jose State, Rice, and Tulsa.



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