Box Score Box Score
DALLAS, Texas – Predrag Savovic scored a game-high 29 points, including a career-best six 3-pointers as Hawaii outlasted SMU, 85-76, Thursday night at Moody Coliseum to remain a top the Western Athletic Conference standings. The Rainbow Warriors connected on 12 treys, compared to SMU's nine, in improving to 20-3 overall and 11-1 in league play.
With the victory, Hawaii reached the 20-win mark for the first time since the 1997-98 season and just the ninth time in its 79-year history. The 'Bows also posted its fifth road victory this season, tying the program record for most WAC road wins.
Savovic, who is coming off a career-high 32-point performance in UH's victory over UTEP, finished with his second highest total this season on 10-of-17 shooting from the field and 6-of-10 beyond the 3-point arc. The senior guard also grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists.
Teammate Carl English also had an all-around game, recording 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Guard Mike McIntyre and forward Mindaugas Burneika came off the bench to score 11 points a piece.
Hawaii out-shot the Mustangs 48.2 to 39.7 percent. The 'Bows connected on 12-of-25 attempts from long range while SMU was 9-of-31. However, the Mustangs kept themselves in the game with a dominating rebounding advantage, 47 to 32, including 23 to 7 on the offensive end.
The 'Bows held the lead for most of the first half, and maintained that advantage until 6:19 left in the game. The Mustangs finally overtook Hawaii on a Quiton Ross lay-up but the lead was short-lived. Consecutive layups by Burneika and English gave UH a two-point cushion. Savovic put the game away with his sixth trey giving the 'Bows a 76-69 lead with 1:56 to play.
Hawaii takes its five-game win streak to Louisiana Tech, where they take on the Bulldogs, Saturday, Feb. 9 at 4:00 p.m. CST. Louisiana Tech is coming off a 77-53 rout of San Jose State. The game will be broadcast live on KCCN Rainbow Sports Radio (1420 AM) with Bobby Curran calling the action.
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