Box Score
EL PASO, Texas - The University of Hawaii men's basketball team shot a season-low 32.7 percent from the field but managed to pull out a 64-52 victory over a struggling UTEP squad, Thursday night, at the Don Haskins Center. The Rainbow Warriors (8-1, 1-0) won their Western Athletic Conference opener and improved their season win streak to six games.
Guard Carl English, the WAC's preseason player of the year, scored a game-high 17 points but finished 4-of-13 shooting from the field, his worst shooting performance of the season. Junior guard Michael Kuebler added 16 points and was 3-of-8 from 3-point range. Forward Nkeruwem Akpan chipped in with nine points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
UTEP suited up just eight players for the game, most notably freshman guard Giovanni St. Amant. The rookie scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting, setting a school record for points in a game by a freshman. Forward Justino Victoriano posted a double-double (10 pts./10 reb.).
Playing on just two days rest, the 'Bows struggled to find their shot for much of the night. After taking an 18-10 lead with 9:59 remaining in the first half, UH went cold for the next six and half minutes as the Miners went on a 12-0 run to take a 22-18 advantage. Akpan tied the score at 23 with :50 remaining on a putback off a missed shot, one of his seven offensive rebounds on the night. After a UTEP turnover, English put up an NBA-range 3-pointer at the buzzer to give UH the lead at the half.
"Up to that point, we were playing a bit sluggishly," head coach Riley Wallace said. "It gave us a lift going into the locker room. We worked on that play all week and it worked out for us tonight when we needed it."
With the game tied at 26 with 18:10 left, the 'Bows surged to a seven point lead after Phil Martin scored on consecutive possessions. UTEP closed to five but would get no closer than that. Akpan controlled the glass in the second half grabbing 10 rebounds in the period.
Hawaii travels to Boise, Idaho to face Boise State, Saturday, Jan. 4. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. MST. The Broncos (7-4, 1-0) were 58-56 winners over San Jose State, Thursday.
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