Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team opened the 2002-03 season with an 81-65 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock, Friday night, on the first day of the Hawaiian Airlines Tip-Off Tournament.

Junior center Haim Shimonovich led the squad with a game-high 18 points and eight rebounds on five-of-eight shooting from the field. Junior college transfer Michael Kuebler came off the bench and scored 17 points, including three from beyond the arc. Junior Carl English, a Wooden Award candidate, scored 15 points in 34 minutes.

The Rainbow Warriors opened the scoring with a 13-3 run with Shimonovich scoring eight of UH's points. Hawaii continued to build on its lead, taking a 37-20 advantage with 4:05 remaining in the first half. The 'Bows entered the locker room with a comfortable 16 point cushion.

When the Trojans cut the deficit to 57-45 with 12:46 to play, Hawaii responded with a 11-0 run to take a 68-45 lead. Over the next eight minutes, UALR trimmed the UH lead to 71-60 but would get no closer than that.

In the earlier game, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi held on to defeat Cal State Fullerton, 83-76. Brian Evans scored a game-high 24 points, while Travis Bailey added 22.

On Sunday, Cal State Fullerton and Arkansas-Little Rock meets at 5:00 p.m. followed by UH and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 7:00 p.m.



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