Box Score

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The University of Hawai`i men's basketball team handed first-year head coach Bob Nash his first Western Athletic Conference victory and picked up its first road win of the year by holding off San Jose State, 85-79, Saturday night at The Event Center.

Hawai`i led by double-digits for much of the game and held off a late Spartan rally to improve to 5-9 overall and 1-1 in the WAC. San Jose State dropped to 6-7 overall and 0-2 in the WAC.

UH continued it dominance over San Jose State with its 10th straight win over the Spartans and fifth straight in San Jose. Hawai`i has not lost to the Spartans since 2003.

Matt Gibson led UH with 18 points, eight assists and five rebounds before fouling out in the waning minutes. Bobby Nash and Riley Luettgerodt each poured in 14 points, while Jared Dillinger added 13.

UH's win offset a stellar performance by San Jose State's freshman guard Justin Graham who finished with a game-high 29 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 14-of-17 shooting from the line.

Hawai`i nailed seven of its first eight shots to claim a lead they would not relinquish. The Rainbow Warriors, who shot 57 percent in the first half, built its lead to as many as 16 points before taking a 43-29 lead at the break.

UH enjoyed its biggest lead of the game when a Nash three-pointer made it 50-33 at the 17:33. The 'Bows continued to maintain a comfortable cushion, leading by 13 points with 2:43 remaining, before the Spartans made one final push.

San Jose State, who made 43 trips to the free throw line, scored 12 of its final 16 points from the charity stripe and got within five points with 33 seconds left. But that would be as close as it would get. UH sealed its first road win in four tries this year by shooting 52 percent from the floor and posting a season-high 85 points.

Hawai`i returns home where they will play three straight WAC games, beginning with a showdown with Nevada on Saturday, Jan. 12. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

 

 

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