Box Score Box Score
EL PASO, TEXAS – Predrag Savovic scored a season-high 29 points, including 23 in the second half, as Hawaii held off UTEP, 70-68, Thursday night at the Don Haskins Center. The Rainbow Warriors, who won for just the fourth time ever in El Paso, extended its current win streak to six games and improved to 12-2, 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference.
Savovic finished 9-of-16 from the field and tied a career-high with five 3-pointers, which he also duplicated in last Saturday's victory over Nevada. The reigning WAC player of the week led an offense which shot 50 percent for the game, including a blistering 72 percent (13-of-18) after the half. But his most important points came with 10.4 seconds remaining and the 'Bows leading 68-66. Savovic hit two clutch free throws to seal the victory.
Hawaii's 3-0 WAC start is its best since the 1993-94 squad won its first four league games. The victory also marks the team's first WAC road opening victory in eight years. The 'Bows will try for its first WAC road sweep since the 1997-98 season, when that team swept San Jose State and Fresno State in the regular season finale.
Sophomores Carl English and Phil Martin also scored in double figures for the 'Bows. English finished with 15 points, including a pair of free throws with 35.7 seconds remaining to give Hawaii a four-point cushion. Martin added 13 points and five rebounds. Fellow sophomore Haim Shimonovich grabbed 10 rebounds and had seven points and two blocked shots.
Holding an 18-13 lead with 12:19 to go in the first half, UH went more than six minutes without a basket as the Miners overtook the 'Bows, 25-18.
The 'Bows regained the lead 3:44 into the second half after consecutive Savovic 3-pointers. After Brian Stewart's only basket of the game tied the score at 46 with 12:59 to play, UH went on a 14-3 run to take a 60-49 lead. UH had to hold on after Miners cut the lead to two with 46 seconds to play.
Hawaii travels to Boise State, Saturday. The Broncos were 61-52 winners over San Jose State.
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