Box Score
HONOLULU - The Hawai'i men's basketball team overcame an all-world performance by Nevada's Nick Fazekas in a 73-69 overtime victory, Thursday night, in a Western Athletic Conference match-up at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 2-0 in league play and 8-4 overall.
Fazekas, the reigning WAC Player of the Year, nearly single-handedly led the Wolf Pack (10-3, 0-1) to their fourth consecutive victory over UH, with a 37-point, 15-rebound performance. The point total was the most by a UH opponent since UTEP's Brandon Wolfram scored 35 in a 2001 match-up. Fazekas, who bested his previous career-high of 35 points set earlier this season, was 11-of-25 from the field and 12-of-13 from the free throw line.
For the 'Bows, Julian Sensley scored a team-high 19 points but more importantly took a critical charge call on Marcelus Kemp in the closing seconds of overtime. The Wolf Pack had rallied from six points down with under a half minute to play and pulled to within one at 70-69 after Kemp's second straight 3-pointer.
But Sensley, who made one of two free throws with seven seconds left, anticipated the pass to Kemp at mid-court and stepped in front to draw the foul. UH's Matt Lojeski was fouled on the inbounds and made both free throws to seal the victory.
UH used its size and athleticism to set a new school record for blocked shots with 13. The 'Bows had five key blocks in overtime which enabled them to build a 66-60 advantage. Senior forward Matthew Gipson had five blocks along with 10 points and four rebounds. WAC and team-leader Ahmet Gueye added four blocks to his season total, while reserve center Chris Botez added two.
Freshman guard Dominic Waters had a breakout performance in his first extended action of the season. The Portland, Ore., native scored nine points and had two clutch 3-pointers.
The Wolf Pack rallied from a nine-point deficit in the first half to take a 34-31 halftime lead. During a stretch in the period, Fazekas took over scoring 11 straight points as the Wolf Pack used a 13-2 run to take the lead at 26-24.
UH quickly regained the lead in the second half by scoring the first six points. The lead see-sawed in the period with neither team taking no more than a four-point lead.
The Wolf Pack had a chance to win in regulation by Kemp missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds.
The 'Bows will next make their first WAC road trip of the season with games at Louisiana Tech, Jan. 12 and New Mexico State, Jan. 14.
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