Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team held off a late San Francisco comeback with an 89-85 victory, Wednesday night, on the opening day of the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors advanced to the semifinals for the 11th straight year and will meet Nebraska on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Three 'Bows scored 20 or more points led by Matt Lojeski's 24. Bobby Nash and Ahmet Gueye added 21 and 20 points, respectively, marking the first time since 1994 that three UH players scored 20 or more in the same game.

Lojeski also had five assists and five rebounds and eclipsed the 20-point mark for the fifth time this season. Nash had his second straight 20-point game and nearly posted his second consecutive double-double with eight rebounds. Gueye broke out of his recent slump by scoring 12 of his 20 in the first half. He also grabbed seven boards and finished 9-of-13 from the field.

As a team, the 'Bows shot 57.1 percent from the field and assisted on 23 of their 32 baskets. However the game wasn't in their hands until the final seconds when Matt Gibson drained two free throws with 1.4 seconds left for the game's final margin.

The Dons rallied from a double-digit second half digit and closed to within 84-81 with 1:41 left and had a chance to tie on their next possession. However Armondo Surratt's attempt from the top of the key misfired and Nash found Lojeski alone under the basket with 24.3 seconds left.

After an Antonio Kellogg coast-to-coast dunk with 3.1 ticks left pulled USF to within 87-85, Gibson was fouled and made both free throws to seal the victory.

The Dons (4-8) were led by Alan Wiggins' 24 points. Surratt added 22 points and five assists.

Gibson added 11 points and a team-high eight assists for UH.

The tournament continues on Thursday with a pair of first round games as Charlotte and Houston meet at 5:00 p.m. followed by Valpairaso and Creighton at 7:30 p.m.

-UH-