Box Score Box Score

TULSA, Okla. – With first place in the Western Athletic Conference at stake, Hawaii exploded for a 90-82 victory over Tulsa, Saturday night before a sold-out Donald Reynolds Center crowd of 8,355. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 17-3 overall and a league-leading 8-1 mark in the WAC.

The 'Bows were forced into foul trouble when post men Haim Shimonovich and Phil Martin picked up their fourth fouls at the halfway mark of the second half. Savovic and Mike McIntyre took over from there as they combined to score 29 second half points. McIntyre tied his personal best of 22 points including a career high 6-of-8 from beyond the 3-point arc.

“We moved to a small lineup in the second half and had good shooters on the court who were hot. When McIntyre gets on a roll, he's gonna get his points. He's got tremendous confidence.”

UH battled their way back to a seven point deficit at the half (41-34), after trailing by double digits for much of the period. Including McIntyre's 22, four other 'Bows scored in double figures; Savovic (20), Phil Martin (16), Mindaugas Burneika (13), and Carl English (10). As a team, Hawaii shot 52.5 percent from the field and was 9-of-20 from long range. UH also out-rebounded Tulsa, 40-to-32.

Tulsa controlled the first half, jumping out to an 18-8 lead just 6:29 into the game. The Golden Hurricane maintained their lead for much of the period until the 'Bows went on a mini 5-0 run to close out the half. The Hurricane scored at will down low as Johnson scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds. Forward Charlie Davis added seven points and six boards.

Wallace switched up his man-to-man defense in the second half as Burneika started in place of Savovic to start the half. The defensive switch confused Tulsa early as the 'Bows scored seven of the first nine points to pull within one (43-42). When Shimonovich and Martin picked up consecutive fouls, the 'Bows went with their small lineup which scored eight straight points, all by McIntyre, to take a 62-57 lead with 9:19 remaining.

From that point on, Hawaii controlled the tempo of the game as the Hurricane were forced to take long outside shots while the 'Bows crashed the boards getting numerous second chance points off of their 11 offensive rebounds. Every time the Hurricane pulled to within a basket, UH came up with the big shots. Hawaii increased its lead to as much as 12 with :53 remaining.

“This game was a big-time college shootout and a great setting for basketball,” Wallace said.

Hawaii returns to Honolulu, where they host Boise State, Jan. 31 and UTEP, Feb. 2 at the Stan Sheriff Center.



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