Box Score

HONOLULU - On the opening night of the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team handed Bradley a 90-69 defeat, Friday night, at the Stan Sheriff Center. Hawai'i advances to the championship round and will face Tennessee Tech in one semifinal game, Sunday.

The unlikely scoring leader for the Rainbow Warriors was reserve forward Nkeruwem Akpan. The 6-foot-8 sophomore scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Akpan made his first 10 shots from the field, and finished 11-of-13 shooting. Center Haim Shimonovich added 20 points and nine boards, missing out on his second double-double of the season. Guard Carl English chipped in with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

UH shot 48.6 percent from the field, despite only 28 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. The 'Bows also controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Braves, 42-to-22.

Bradley's Kevin Granger scored 19 points while playing with a low grade concussion, in which he suffered early in the second half. James Gillingham led the Braves with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting.

Akpan scored 12 in the first half to eclipse his previous career high in points of eight, as Hawaii took a 41-33 lead into the locker room.

Brent Jolly scored 15 points as Tennessee Tech advanced to the championship round with a 62-50 victory over Alcorn State in the early game of the day. The Golden Eagles limited the Braves to just 26 percent shooting. Alcorn State and Bradley will face off in a consolation round game, Sunday, at 11:00 a.m.

The 'Bows and Golden Eagles tip-off at 7:30 p.m.



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