Box Score

HONOLULU - The Hawai'i men's basketball team continued its dominance of San Jose State with an 83-68 victory, Saturday night, in a Western Athletic Conference match-up at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors (12-8, 6-4 WAC) improved to a perfect 6-0 in WAC homes games and have beaten the Spartans six consecutive times in the series.

The victory pulled UH to within one game of the WAC lead. The 'Bows are alone in fourth place behind Louisiana Tech, Utah State, and Nevada, who are all 7-3.

Forward Julian Sensley scored a game-high 25 points, including a career-best five 3-pointers. Sensley has eclipsed the 20-point mark in two straight games and seven times this season. The senior also just missed out on a double-double with nine rebounds and three assists.

Also scoring in double figures for the 'Bows were forward Ahmet Gueye (19) and guards Matt Lojeski (10) and Deonte Tatum (10). Gueye also had seven rebounds and four of the team's 11 blocked shots.

Leading the Spartans (5-16, 1-7) was guard Alex Elam, who scored 21 points and was 4-of-9 from 3-point range.

As a team, the 'Bows shot 48.3 percent and converted a season-best 95 percent from the free throw line. UH was a perfect 18-for-18 until reserve center Chris Botez missed one of two with just over a minute to play. The 'Bows also assisted on 19 of their 28 buckets and committed only seven turnovers.

Gueye got off to a great start with three blocked shots as the 'Bows jumped out to 7-2 lead. UH eventually extended its lead to 27-16 with over eight minutes to play. However the Spartans came roaring back and Elam's trey just before the halftime buzzer culminated a 17-6 run to close out the half and tie the game at 33.

Elam's bucket to start the second half put the Spartans on top for the first time since their opening possession. The 'Bows answered back and surged ahead 48-40 after Lojeski's first trey of the game. Consecutive 3-pointers by Lojeski and Sensley gave UH a double digit lead at 56-43. The Spartans never threatened the rest of the way.

The 'Bows return to the mainland where they will play road games at Boise State, Saturday, Feb. 11, and Fresno State, Monday, Feb. 13.

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