Box Score

HONOLULU - The Hawai'i men's basketball team overcame a sluggish first half finish and exploded for 51 points after the break for an 81-67 victory over Boise State, Wednesday night, in a Western Athletic Conference match-up at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors snapped a two-game skid to improve to 14-7 overall and 6-7 in league play.

Sophomore Matt Gibson scored 21 points and was 7-of-9 shooting from the field. Reserve forward Vaidotas Peciukas added 15 points for his third double-figure scoring game against the Broncos in his career. Guard Bobby Nash finished with 12 points and made his first start since the start of the New Year. Guard Jake Sottos had 11 points and seven assists and forward Jeff Blackett tallied eight points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.

With UH (14-7, 6-7 WAC) holding a 29-17 advantage following a Sensley bucket with 4:27 left in the first half, the Broncos came storming back and closed out the half with a 14-1 run to take a 31-30 lead into the locker room. UH was held scoreless for the final 3:54 of the half. BSU's Coby Karl sparked the comeback with consecutive treys and Jermaine Blackburn had successive lay-ups.

The second half featured six ties and five lead changes. BSU (10-15, 4-10) opened the second half with a Karl trey for a four-point advantage. UH tied it with back-to-back buckets by Blackett and Sensley. Gibson's trey put UH on top 41-38 but Karl tied it with another trey. UH quickly responded with a Sottos trey and Gibson lay-up.

The Broncos tied the game again at 51 with consecutive treys by Seth Robinson and Franco Harris. UH regained the lead after a Sensley free throw and stretched it to four after Nash banked in a 3-pointer.

With UH holding a 64-60 lead with under 5:00 to play, Nash scored eight straight points, to push the Hawaii lead to 72-62 at the 2:00 mark. On UH's next possessions, Sensley added consecutive dunks, the latter a spectacular jam over Jason Ellis. On the play, Sensley hurt his knee and left the game for precautionary reasons.

Karl led the Broncos with 19 points while Blackburn chipped in with 16.

The 'Bows take a break from WAC play and will participate in ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday, Feb. 19. UH will host Wisconsin-Milwaukee of the Horizon League in a nationally televised game on ESPN2. Tip-off is set for 3:05 p.m. at the Sheriff Center.

The game is billed a "Green-Out" and all fans in attendance are encouraged to wear green shirts. In addition, the first 7,000 fans will receive a free "Spirit Towel." UH students will receive a free upper level ticket and UH Kid's Club members will receive a free ticket upon purchase of an adult ticket. Fans may also redeem their Bracket Buster ticket for a free ticket to the UH baseball game against Pacific at 5:30 p.m.

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