Box Score

MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Hawaii men's basketball team earned a hard-fought road win, edging Idaho, 58-53, Saturday night at the Cowan Spectrum. Two nights after one of its poorest performances of the season, the Rainbow Warriors (8-11, 4-3 WAC) bounced back against the Vandals to grab its second road victory of the year.

The game was close throughout while being played at a grinding pace. UH never trailed in the second half, locking up the win with solid defense and clutch free throw shooting. After giving up a season-high 95 points in a loss to Boise State, UH held Idaho to 53 points, a season-low for a UH opponent.

In the process, Hawai`i avenged last season's heartbreaking one-point loss in Moscow and defeated the Vandals (5-14, 2-6 WAC) for the fourth time in five regular-season WAC meetings.

Matt Gibson led UH in scoring for the second straight game with 16 points and four assists. Jared Dillinger and Bobby Nash each scored 12 points, while P.J. Owsley finished with a season-high 10 points.

Jordan Brooks led Idaho with 17 points, more than half (9) coming from the free throw line. Mike Hall finished with 12 points, but was held to just 1-of-7 shooting from long range two nights after burying a school-record nine three-pointers.

After going into the locker room knotted, 24-24, UH slowly took control in the second half. UH held Idaho to just one field goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half and opened up a 39-31 lead, the largest margin of the game by either team. Idaho tied the game briefly with just under three minutes left, before a Gibson layup on the next possession put UH up for good.

Down 52-51, Idaho had a chance to seize its first lead of the second half, but Hall's jumper with 35 seconds fell off the mark. The 'Bows sealed the win with six straight free throws down the stretch, including four by Riley Luettgerodt.

UH held the Vandals to just 39 percent shooting for the game and forced 19 turnovers. The 'Bows finished at 48 percent shooting and went 14-of-17 from the line (82 percent).

Hawai`i next returns home to host New Mexico State on Thursday, Jan. 31. Tipoff is at 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

 

 

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