Box Score

HONOLULU - In a game typical of recent Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic championships, the Hawai'i men's basketball team pulled out a dramatic 72-68 victory over USC, Thursday, to capture its fourth consecutive tournament crown. A season-high crowd of 8,044 watched as the Rainbow Warriors improved to a perfect 8-0, its best start in 33 years.

UH led by eight at the half and held off a feisty Trojan squad, which closed to within one point on five different occasions in the second half, but could not get closer than that. The 'Bows captured their 10th Rainbow Classic championship and improved their win streak in the tournament to 12 games.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Matt Gibson scored a game-high 16 points, including 10 in the first half. Sophomore Bobby Nash added 14 points to grab all-tournament team honors, more for his late heroics in UH's 55-54 win over Oral Roberts in the semifinals. Junior Matthew Gipson came off the bench to spark the 'Bows with 13 points and nine rebounds.

"Our bench did outstanding in this tournament," head coach Riley Wallace said. "Everybody did their part. I really liked our defense and intensity."

USC was led by Gregg Guenther's 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Gabriel Pruitt was held to just two points but still managed to find his way on the all-tournament team.

The high-paced first half featured numerous lead changes. With the Trojans leading 24-23, Gibson got hot sinking a trey followed by a breakaway lay-up. After USC coach Jim Saia was charged with a technical foul, Gibson drained two free throws and Nash swished a baseline jumper to give UH a 32-24 lead.

UH maintained that lead and went into the locker room with a 36-28 advantage. Both teams shot 51.9 percent from the field but the difference was USC's free throw shooting. The Trojans shot 0-of-7 from the charity stripe in the first half and 51.7 percent for the game, while UH connected on a season-best 70 percent (21-for-30) from the line.

Nash's trey to start the second half put UH on top 39-28. USC came charging back and closed to 43-39 after a Stewart 3-pointer with 15:11 left. Derrick Craven's free throw pulled the Trojans to 45-44. Each time UH tried to surge ahead, the Trojans found their way back. Guenther had a chance to tie the game at 55 but missed on his second free throw attempt.

After a Gipson bucket, Nick Young drained a long-range 3-pointer to pull USC to 58-57 with 4:30 left. A pair of Gipson free throws put UH on top 62-58 with 2:16 remaining but the Trojans again narrowed the deficit to one after a Craven jumper.

With under a minute to play, Sensley's dunk gave UH a six-point lead at 69-63 with 33 seconds remaining. Stewart's 3-pointer with the clock winding down gave USC one last chance but Jeff Blackett's free throw with 10.5 seconds left secured the victory.

"Every night someone steps up," Wallace said. "It's a real team effort. Everybody gets their share."

Also named to the all-tournament team was Georgetown's Jeff Green, UAB's Donnell Taylor, and Oral Roberts' Caleb Green.

The 'Bows leave for Fresno, Calif., on Monday, where they open the WAC season against the Bulldogs, Dec. 29, at the SaveMart Center.

Third Place Game
UAB claimed third place with an 84-77 victory over Oral Roberts. Ronell Taylor came off the bench and scored 18 points to pace four Blazers in double figures. Caleb Green had 22 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort for the Golden Eagles.

Consolation Championship
Clemson outscored Georgetown, 47-33 in the second half en route to a 75-60 victory for the consolation championship. Leading scorer Brandon Bowman led the Hoyas with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Seventh Place Game
In the seventh place game, Shawn Hawkins' putback with 0.8 seconds remaining gave Long Beach State a 38-37 victory over Indiana State. The 75 total points by both teams marked the lowest scoring output in tournament history.

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