Box Score
HONOLULU - Behind the scoring duo of guards
Carl English and
Michael Kuebler, the University of Hawaii men's basketball team defeated SMU, 72-55, Thursday night in a Western Athletic Conference game at the Stan Sheriff Center. With the victory, the Rainbow Warriors (9-2, 2-1 WAC) extended its home win streak to 20 games.
English, the preseason WAC player of the year, scored 15 first half points while Kuebler chipped in with 13, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range as the 'Bows built a nine-point halftime cushion. English finished with a team-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Kuebler scored 17.
UH also extended its WAC home win streak to 17 games dating back to the 2000-01 season. The 'Bows shot 46.6 percent from the floor and assisted on 19 of 27 buckets.
Midway through the first half, UH opened a 21-10 lead on a Nkeruwem Akpan backdoor layup. Moments later, English's only trey of the game at 8:55, gave the 'Bows a 24-12 advantage. The Mustangs closed to within 34-29 but a Kuebler 3-pointer extended UH's lead to 37-29 with 1:26 remaining. On UH's next possession, Kuebler answered with another trey giving the 'Bows an 11-point lead.
SMU shot .542 in the half led by Quinton Ross' 12 points.
Hawaii maintained that lead throughout the second half. After a Phil Martin 3-point play at the 10:00 mark gave the 'Bows a 56-45 lead, the Mustangs never got within single digits the rest of the way.
For the Mustangs, Ross (16), Patrick Simpson (15), and Bryan Hopkins (15) and scored 46 of the teams' 55 points.
The 'Bows next host Louisiana Tech, Saturday, Jan. 11. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Bulldogs were 80-67 winners over San Jose State, Thursday.
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