Box Score

HONOLULU - The Hawai'i men's basketball team pulled out a hard-fought 56-55 victory over San Jose State, Saturday night, at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 16-4 overall and remain alone in first place in the Western Athletic Conference with an 8-2 mark.

Sophomore Logan Lee made two free throws with 5.7 seconds left to put UH on top 56-53. SJSU's Demetrius Brown misfired on his 3-point attempt and his putback with 0.2 seconds remaining provided the final score.

Guard Michael Kuebler led the way for the 'Bows with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. In the first half, the senior connected on his 100th career trey, which ranks him seventh all-time in school history.

Forward Julian Sensley added 13 points, 12 of which came after intermission. Center Haim Shimonovich recorded 11 points, nine rebounds, and three blocked shots.

Marquin Chandler posted a season-high 19 points and nine rebounds for the Spartans (5-15, 0-10), who suffered its 12th consecutive loss.

UH raced out to a 15-6 lead midway through the first half. The Spartans chipped away into the deficit by using a slow-down approach, utilizing nearly the entire shot clock on most of its possessions. A 13-3 run pulled SJSU to 19-18 with 4:01 to play.

Kuebler drained his second 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to put UH ahead 22-18 and moments later his third trey gave the 'Bows a 25-18 lead with 2:14 remaining. Brown's fall-away jumper at the halftime buzzer pulled the Spartans to within 26-22.

The Spartans wouldn't go away in the second half. After SJSU closed to 32-29, Kuebler hit his fourth trey pushing the Hawai'i lead to 35-29. On UH's ensuing possession, Shimonovich's turnaround jumper gave the 'Bows an eight-point lead with 15:29 left.

The Spartans again narrowed the deficit to three but Sensley answered with a 3-point play for a 43-37 UH lead. The 'Bows again increased its lead to eight after Shimonovich's rebound and putback.

With 7:15 to play, the Spartans closed to within 47-44. But Phil Martin converted two free throws and Shimonovich's baseline jumper put the 'Bows on top 52-46 lead with 3:22 remaining.

SJSU's Bim Okunrinboye answered with a 3-pointer with 1:54 left but on UH's next possession, Shimonovich found Sensley for a dunk which put the 'Bows back on top 54-49.

Okunrinboye's bucket pulled SJSU to 54-51 with 1:16 remaining. Lee misfired on UH's next possession giving the Spartans a chance to tie. Chandler missed a 3-point attempt from the top of the key but somehow got the rebound and his putback with 7.6 seconds left pulled the Spartans to 54-53.

SJSU played without its leading scorer, Eric Walton, who missed the game due to the flu.

The 'Bows next host Louisiana Tech, Thursday, and SMU, Saturday. Tip-off for both games is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.



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