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Box Score

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai`i Rainbow Warrior basketball team used a strong second-half effort to outlast Prairie View A&M, 78-70, Monday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH trailed by as many as 11 points, but eventually wore down the Panthers after halftime to improve to 3-2 with its third straight win.

 

After trailing by eight at halftime, UH ramped up its play on both sides of the ball. Hawai`i held the Panthers (3-5) to just 34 percent shooting after the break, while on the offensive end, used its superior size advantage to sink 14-of-16 (88 percent) field goals and 19-of-25 free throws (76 percent).

 

Roderick Flemings proved to be the driving force in the win, finishing with 22 points and 13 rebounds for his first career double-double. The native of Dallas, Texas, shot 7-of-9 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line, while scoring all but three of his points in the second half. He also added three assists, two blocks and a steal.

 

Bill Amis also had a huge performance with his first career double-double. The junior from Oklahoma City, Okla., finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Amis also blocked a career-high six shots as the physically superior 'Bows finished with 11 blocks on the night, its highest total in nearly two years. 

 

Derek Johnson led three Panthers in double-digits with a team-high 18 points.

 

It was the second straight game that UH came back from a double-digit deficit. The 'Bows won despite a lethargic first half. Prairie View A&M scored the first five points of the game and Derek Johnson's three-point play 13 minutes in made it 28-17. UH shot just 31 percent in the first half, while the Panthers got 15 of their 37 first half points off of UH turnovers to take an eight point lead at the break. 

 

UH bounced back with a 14-6 run to tie the score six minutes into second half. Then Flemings took over. The junior scored 13 of the team's next 15 points to help Hawai`i stake a 58-53 lead. Prairie View would tie the score, 62-62, with four minutes remaining, but UH scored the next six points, including a pair of free throws by Flemings, and never looked back.

 

Hawai`i ended the game with a 38-28 advantage on the boards. The Rainbow Warriors also went to the line 43 times, converting 31 free throws.

 

The 'Bows next travel to Champaign, Ill., for their first road game of the year. UH takes on Illinois in a re-match of last year's game in Honolulu, won by the Illini, 79-77. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CT at Assembly Hall.