Box Score

EL PASO, Texas - The Hawai'i men's basketball team nearly overcame a 21-point first half deficit to UTEP but fell, 71-62, Monday night, before an energetic sold-out crowd at the Don Haskins Center. The Rainbow Warriors, who were a half game behind UTEP for first in the Western Athletic Conference race, dropped its third consecutive game and into fourth place in the standings.

The 'Bows (17-8, 9-5) fell behind 37-16 with 6:14 remaining in the first half but managed to cut the deficit to seven on five occasions after the break.

After being held scoreless in the first half, guard Michael Kuebler finished with a team-high 22 points for the 'Bows. The senior was 8-of-17 from the field and at one point in the second period, scored 10 straight to pull the 'Bows to within striking distance.

Sophomore Julian Sensley added 18 points and nine rebounds, just missing on his seventh double-double of the season. Senior Haim Shimonovich started the game after missing the last two contests due to a sprained knee. The 6-foot-10 center finished with two points and two rebounds and did not play in the second half.

UTEP (22-5, 11-4) was led by sophomore John Tofi, who scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds. Senior Chris Craig added 14 points, all in the second half, including three 3-pointers.

UTEP jumped out to a 13-5 lead behind eight points by Roy Smallwood. Three minutes later, the Miners extended its lead to 20-9. UTEP kept it rolling and built a 21-point lead before the 'Bows answered with a 7-0 run to close to 37-23.

The Miners led 40-27 at the half and shot 53.6 percent from the field. Tofi led the team with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

After the break, UH pulled to within 40-30 after Kuebler's first points of the game. But the Miners extended its lead back to 17 by scoring the next seven points. Kuebler then got hot scoring 10 consecutive points, including two 3-pointers, which closed the deficit to 50-43 with 12:07 left.

With UTEP leading 55-48 halfway through the period, Chris Craig converted a four-point play, which pushed the lead back into double figures. The 'Bows narrowed the gap to seven again after a Sensley dunk and Kuebler's third trey.

But UH was held without a field goal for the final three minutes until Logan Lee's desperation 3-pointer with six seconds remaining.

The 'Bows return to Honolulu for its final homestand, where they face Tulsa, Friday, Feb. 27 and Rice, Sunday, Feb. 29. Tip-off for the Tulsa game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. while the Rice game is set for 3:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.



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