Box Score

TULSA, Okla. - Hawai'i began its defense of its Western Athletic Conference championship the hard-way - with a 62-61 overtime win over Rice Thursday night at the Donald Reynolds Center. Carl English hit two free throws with 4.9 seconds left in overtime to keep UH's bid for a third straight tournament title alive.

Forward Phil Martin scored a team-high 21 points and tied a career-high with 14 rebounds. The junior scored five points in the extra period, including a clutch jumper from the top of the key as he was getting fouled with 1:03 remaining that gave the 'Bows a 60-59 lead. English added 15 points despite struggling from the field (4-14). Center Nkeruwem Akpan posted 11 points and eight rebounds.

The two-time defending champs extended its win streak at the Williams WAC Tournament to seven games which tied a tourney record for consecutive wins. But to do so, Hawai'i needed help from Rice's Omar-Seli Mance. The senior missed the front end of two free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining in overtime, which could have forced a second extra frame. Instead the 'Bows ran out the clock and advanced to the semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.

"It was expected to be a game like this," head coach Riley Wallace said. "We won two balanced games with them and they have really, really improved as a team this year. We knew we needed Haim (Shimonovich) really bad tonight to help Phil down inside because they couldn't push him off as easily as they can our other guys. We played with a lot of heart tonight to really gut it out."

After trailing by one at the half, the 'Bows regained the lead and held it until the waning seconds of regulation. With UH holding a 47-38 lead with 7:41 remaining, the Owls went on a 9-2 run over the next five minutes to close the deficit to two (49-47). After a Shimonovich free throw put Hawaii up 51-48 with 1:20 left, Mance connected on his fourth 3-pointer to tie the game at 51.

On UH's next possession, Martin was fouled driving to the basket and converted both free throws with 44.9 seconds left. Martin then forced a steal but turned the ball over giving the Owls one last chance. With the clock winding down, Rice's Rashid Smith drove the lane and passed to Michael Harris, whose lay-up tied the game at 53.

The 'Bows next face top-seeded Tulsa, Friday, in one semifinal game at 8:30 p.m.



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