Box Score

HONOLULU -The University of Hawaii men's basketball team dropped its Western Athletic Conference home opener to Nevada, 77-59, Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors fell to 5-10 overall and 1-2 in the WAC with their fifth loss in the last six home games.

After eclipsing 80 points in its first two WAC games, Hawai`i suffered through one of its worst offensive performance of the season. UH tied its season low with 59 points and shot just 38 percent from the field. The 'Bows particularly struggled from long range, converting on just three of its 21 three-point attempts.

Matt Gibson gave another stellar effort for UH, leading the team with 22 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Gibson, however, was the only player to score in double-digits for the 'Bows, with Bobby Nash the next highest scorer with eight. It marked the first time in 15 games this year that Nash did not score in double figures.

Marcelus Kemp led the Wolf Pack with a season-high 29 points and added seven rebounds and four assists. JaVale McGee chipped in a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

UH has now lost four straight against Nevada and seven of the last eight meetings. The Wolf Pack improved to 9-6 overall, while also picking up its first WAC win of the year (1-1).

Early on, it looked like it would be the Rainbow Warriors who would run away with a win. UH pounced on the Wolf Pack scoring 10 of the game's first 12 points and taking a 22-10 lead on a P.J. Owsley layup with 7:21 left in the half. However, the 'Bows went scoreless over the next five minutes allowing Nevada back in the game. The Wolf Pack erased the double-digit deficit with a 17-2 run and eventually took a three-point lead, 31-28, into the locker room.

UH's woes continued in the second half as it went scoreless in the first four minutes as Nevada built its first double digit lead, 38-28. Hawai`i clawed back, pulling within four points, 42-38, with 13 minutes left. The Wolf Pack responded with seven straight points to maintain its double-digit cushion.

Nevada shot 51 percent from the floor, buried 7-of-15 from three-point range and converted on 18 of its 21 free throw attempts to secure the conference road victory.

UH looks to bounce back on Monday, Jan. 14 when it faces San Jose State, a squad they defeated on the road a week ago. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff.

 

 

 

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