Box Score
HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i men's basketball team gave a valiant second-half effort, but eventually fell short against Georgia, 67-59, on the final day of the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Rainbow Classic. UH ended the tournament 0-3 and finished in eighth place in the Classic for the first time since 1995.
The teams last met in the 2001 Rainbow Classic finals with the Rainbow Warriors defeating the Bulldogs. The circumstances were different this time around with each team looking to avoid the cellar of the 2007 edition. UH (3-7) nearly erased a 21 point-deficit against Georgia (7-3), getting as close as five points in the waning minutes. But it was too little, too late for the 'Bows who have now lost four of its last five games.
UH struggled to find a rhythm on offense in the first half. The 'Bows committed 14 turnovers, shot 29 percent and scored just 19 points, digging an 18-point hole by intermission.
Hawai`i found new life the second half. Matt Gibson, who sat out the first half, led a re-energized UH squad for a second-half push as the senior guard finished with 16 points, four rebounds and three steals while playing all 20 minutes after the break. Bobby Nash, finished with 14 points, 10 of those coming after intermission.
UH found themselves down 43-22 less than two minutes in to the second half, but wouldn't quit. A Jared Dillinger jumper put UH within six points, 58-52, with three minutes remaining. The 'Bows, however, went scoreless for the next 2:35 as Georgia pushed its lead to eight points with less than a minute remaining.
Sundiata Gaines led four Bulldogs in double-figures with 15 points as Georgia snapped a two-game losing streak.
The Rainbow Classic concluded with St. Mary's defeating Ohio, 70-63, for the tournament crown.
UH continues its homestand as it hosts New Mexico in a rematch of a game won earlier this year by the Lobos in Albuquerque. Tipoff is 7:35 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Final Results
7th place game: Georgia 67, Hawai`i 59
5th place game: Tulane 79, St. John's 71
3rd place game: Louisiana-Lafayette 82, East Tennessee State 80 (OT)
Championship game: St. Mary's 70, Ohio 63
All-Tournament Team
Chris Gradnigo, Louisiana-Lafayette
Patrick Mills, St. Mary's (MVP)
Kevin Sims, Tulane
Diamon Simpson, St. Mary's
Jerome Tillman, Ohio
Leon Williams, Ohio
-UH-
