KENT, Ohio - The Hawai'i men's basketball team hung on for a 79-78 victory over Kent State, of the Mid-Atlantic Conference, Saturday night, before a nationally televised audience at a sold-out Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. The contest, which was part of ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday event, was one of nine games played around the country featuring "mid-major" programs.
The Rainbow Warriors improved to 15-8 overall and won for the first time in the Eastern Time Zone since the 1974 National Invitation Tournament. UH had to hold on after KSU scored 11 points in the game's final 27.2 seconds. Guard Mark Campbell helped to seal the victory, converting on all eight of his free throw attempts in the final minute.
Guard Carl English led the charge with a team-high 22 points, including 15 in the first half. The junior finished 7-of-15 from the field. Guard Michael Kuebler added 12 points, including a crucial 3-pointer with 3:50 remaining which put the 'Bows ahead for good, 64-61. Campbell finished with 10 points and dished out seven assists.
Also scoring in double figures for the 'Bows were forward Phil Martin (14) and center Haim Shimonovich (10). UH shot 49.1 percent from the field and converted 22-of-28 from the free throw line.
"We've been in tight games this year," English said. "You learn from you mistakes and it was evident in tonight's game. We came out strong despite all the distractions, the weather, travel and crowd."
Forward Antonio Gates scored a game-high 30 points in defeat. The senior shot 11-of-20 from the floor and grabbed seven rebounds. However late in the game, Gates miss fired from short range and was called for an offensive foul during an 8-1 UH run which put the 'Bows ahead 69-62 with 1:40 remaining.
In the first half, the 'Bows converted on three consecutive possessions, to take an early 13-7 lead. During a span of six minutes, Gates scored 12 of the KSU's 14 points, while English chipped in 12 of UH's 15 points. While holding a 30-29 lead with 4:15 to play, the 'Bows used a 7-0 run, culminating in an English three-point play to forge ahead, 37-29. Hawai'i would eventually take a 39-34 lead at the half.
The Golden Flashes used a 10-4 spurt out of the locker room to re-take the lead, 43-42. From then on, the teams traded leads seven times until Hawai'i's late run with under 5:00 to play. After Kuebler's trey, the junior converted one of two free throws and put back a shot off a rebound to put the 'Bows ahead by five. English's first field goal of the second half, a driving baseline lay-up with 1:54 remaining gave UH a 69-62 advantage.
The 'Bows remain on the mainland for WAC road games at Tulsa, Feb. 27 and Rice, Mar. 1.
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