Box Score Box Score

TULSA, Okla. – Senior guard Predrag Savovic lit up the Donald Reynolds Center and Nevada for 31 points, in Hawaii's 90-68 victory, Friday night in the semifinals of the 2002 Williams Western Athletic Conference Tournament. The Rainbow Warriors advance to tomorrow's championship game, where they will meet Tulsa, in a rematch of last year's championship game.

Savovic scored 29 of his Reynolds Center record 31 points in the first half. The all-WAC guard nearly outscored the entire Nevada squad (32) in the first half, pumping in six treys on 9-of-12 shooting. Nearly all of his points were off-balance, pull-up shots from every spot on the court as the 'Bows jumped out to a 48-32 lead.

“I think I scored the most points in one half,” Savovic said. “It was a great half. It was a great win and getting to the finals again.”

Hawaii advances to its second straight WAC Tournament title game and fifth overall. UH won the tournament in 1994 and last season, in which they won three straight, including defeating host Tulsa in the championship game.

All 11 eligible UH players saw action in the game, which featured a brief altercation between Hawaii coach Riley Wallace and Nevada coach Trent Johnson near the end of the first half. Guard Mike McIntyre came off the bench to score 16 of his 18 points in the second period, including four 3-pointers. Forward Carl English spent most of the first half on the bench due to foul trouble and played just 21 minutes.

“I though our defense was really good tonight compared to what it was a week ago when we played them up in Nevada,” Wallace said. “Savo was red-hot in the first half. That's kind of like what Carl English did the other night in Fresno with 27 in the first half.”

Hawaii scored the game's first seven points and never looked back. After a Mark Campbell 3-pointer with 13:18 left in the half, UH saw its lead expand to 11 (13-2). The Wolf Pack closed to six on a Jerry Petty trey but the 'Bows responded with a 10-0 run over the next minute and a half to take a 41-25 lead.

UH didn't let up in the second half. Three straight lay-ups by English, Savovic, and Campbell put the 'Bows ahead 59-36 with 13:30 left. The Wolf Pack responded with four straight baskets to trim the deficit to 15. Enter McIntyre who scored eight straight points on two treys and a breakaway lay-up to put the 'Bows back on top by 23.

For the game, Hawaii converted on 12-of-21 from long range. Overall the team shot 58.3 percent from the field while tying its season-high in points.

Tip-off for the championship game is 8:00 p.m. CST. The game will be broadcast on espn2 and Rainbow Sports Radio (KCCN 1420 AM).



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