Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Hawai'i's dramatic run through the National Invitation Tournament ended Wednesday night, as Michigan ran past the Rainbow Warriors, 88-73, in a quarterfinal match-up, before a nationally televised audience at Crisler Arena. The 'Bows finished their season with a 21-12 record and one game shy from reaching the NIT "final four" in New York City.

UH dropped to 0-5 all-time in the NIT quarterfinals after the Wolverines out-scored the 'Bows, 45-36 in the second half. Michigan shot 58.6 percent from the field as five players scored in double-figures, led by leading scorer Lester Abrams. The sophomore returned from a shoulder injury, which sidelined him the past three games, to score 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

In contrast, UH had its lowest shooting performance in three NIT games this season, shooting 48.3 percent, including 8-of-25 from 3-point range. The 'Bows, who were playing its third game in seven days, and second since Monday, was led by guard Michael Kuebler. The senior concluded his two-year career with a team-high 19 points, and five 3-pointers, adding to his single-season UH record to 97. In addition, Kuebler dished out a career-best eight assists.

Sophomore Julian Sensley recorded 16 points and five assists, while senior center Haim Shimonovich capped an illustrious four-year career with 12 points and eight boards. Reserve forward Jeff Blackett added 10 points.

After the first four minutes, the game was tied at 9. The Wolverines jumped out to a 21-13 lead with a 10-2 run but UH rallied back and tied the game at 24 after Kuebler's first 3-pointer with 8:24 left.

Michigan extended its lead back to five and made it a six-point lead (43-37) at the half. Shimonovich and Sensley each had eight points to pace the 'Bows. For the Wolverines, Abrams scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. As a team, Michigan shot 60 percent from the field.

The Wolverines forged ahead 53-43 after consecutive buckets by Daniel Horton four minutes into the half. The 'Bows got no closer than seven, twice, as each time Michigan answered with buckets to push the lead back into double figures.

With UH trailing 66-59 with 10:07 left, the Wolverines used a 22-6 spurt, including an 11-0 run with under five minutes to play, to put the game out of reach.

UH finished the season by posting its 10th 20-win season and advanced to the postseason for the fourth consecutive year. Shimonovich and Phil Martin finished their careers as the winningest players in school history.

"It's been great," head coach Riley Wallace said about the season. "Everyone counted us out. But Kuebler stepped it up this season and Sensley is gonna be a great player for us. And we ended up winning 21 games. I couldn't ask of them to do more than the 21 wins but they ended up doing it."



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