Box Score

HONOLULU - The Hawai'i men's basketball team gave head coach Riley Wallace his 300th career victory in dramatic fashion, as they rallied past Coastal Carolina, 72-65, Friday night, at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors used a 19-2 second half surge and erased a 22-point deficit.

"Of the 300 wins, that must have been the hardest one," head coach Riley Wallace said. "We were just dead in the second half up until the run."

Senior forward Jeff Blackett scored a career-high 22 points, including 20 in the second half. Forward Julian Sensley added 13 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Sophomore Bobby Nash added 12 points while center Chris Botez had 11 points and three blocks while playing all 40 minutes.

After a 13-point season-opening victory over Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday, the 'Bows struggled to find their groove. Not until the Chanticleers went up 54-32 with 14:20 remaining in the game, did UH put their offense in second gear.

During the 19-2 run, Nash and Blackett willed the 'Bows back to life, as Nash drained three 3-pointers and Blackett converted three jumpers to close the deficit to 56-51 with 8:31 left. After a Matthijs Reinders bucket put the Chanticleers ahead 58-51, UH scored the next six points, four by Sensley at the free throw line.

Jack Leasure's sixth trey put CCU on top 63-59 with just over five minutes to play, but UH rallied back again as Blackett's jumper and two free throws put the 'Bows ahead for good, 64-63.

With UH leading by two with just over a minute to go, Nash's fourth trey with 40.8 seconds left gave the 'Bows a comfortable 70-65 cushion.

The Chanticleers were led by Leasure's 22 points, 18 of which came from beyond the 3-point arc. Pele Paelay added 21 points and six assists.

The first half was all CCU as it used an 8-0 run to take a 14-6 lead six minutes into the game. The Chanticleers maintained its lead and pushed it to 24-16 after a Leasure trey with just under 8:00 to play in the half. As the 'Bows struggled to run its offense, CCU increased its lead to 37-23 at the half.

UH committed 11 turnovers in the first half and allowed the Chanticleers to shoot 62.5 percent from the field, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range.

CCU converted on its first three possessions of the second half to take a 43-23 lead. Gibson, who started the second half, nailed his first trey to cut the deficit to 17. But back to back NBA-range treys by Leasure put the Chanticleers ahead 54-32 with 14:20 to go.

The 'Bows conclude its three-game season-opening homestand against Southern Illinois, Monday, Nov. 29. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. The game is being dubbed "Black-out" Night as all fans are encouraged to wear black shirts. The 'Bows will unveil their new-look black uniforms at the game.

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