Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Minnesota used a 26-6 run in the second half en route to an 84-70 victory over Hawai'i, Monday night, in the second round of the Owens Corning National Invitation Tournament, at Williams Arena. The Rainbow Warriors end its season at 19-12.

Guards Michael Kuebler and Carl English led the way scoring a combined 39 points. Kuebler tied a career-high with six 3-pointers as he scored 15 of his team-high 20 points in the first half. English posted 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. Forward Phil Martin recorded 13 points and five rebounds and center Nkeruwem Akpan added 12 points and two steals.

The 'Bows finished the season by advancing to the postseason for a school-record three consecutive years. Minnesota advances to the third round and will face the winner of Temple/Rhode Island.

Hawai'i took a 40-36 halftime lead mainly behind the sharp-shooting of Kuebler. The junior had five of the team's seven treys in the opening period. The 'Bows never trailed in the half and opened up seven-point leads twice.

In the second half, UH pushed its lead to nine (50-41) on Kuebler's sixth trey of the game with 17:18 remaining. From there, the Golphers used their big run which turned a nine-point deficit into an 11-point lead. Included in that run was a 10-0 spurt in which the 'Bows failed to score for five and a half minutes. Minnesota took its first lead of the game with 10:46 left on a Kevin Burleson fastbreak lay-up (57-56).

Guard Maurice Hargrow scored a game-high 22 points while guard Ben Johnson came off the bench to post 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting. All-American candidate Rick Rickert had 16 points.

The 'Bows return to Honolulu, Tuesday, aboard Northwest flight 928 at 4:34 p.m.



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