Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – In its first road game of the year, the University of Hawai`i Rainbow Warrior basketball team battled hard for the full 40 minutes, before eventually succumbing to Illinois, 68-58, Monday night at Assembly Hall. The 'Bows dropped to 3-3 overall and saw its three-game win streak snapped.

 

UH hung tough early, before the Illini went on a decisive run late in the first half. Illinois improved to 8-1 on the season and a perfect 6-0 all-time versus UH, including 2-0 in Champaign.

 

UH was led by the pair of Petras Balocka and Roderick Flemings. Balocka posted his first career double-double with career highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds. Flemings, meanwhile, also recorded a double-double—his second straight—with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Kareem Nitoto dished out a career-best seven assits.

 

Chester Frazier, who went 4-of-6 from behind the arc, led a balanced Illinois attack with 14 points. Dominque Keller also finished with 14 points and Mike Davis added 10.

 

The Rainbow Warriors enjoyed an astonishing 43-14 advantage on the boards and out-scored the Illini 21-9 on second chance points. But UH was plagued with turnovers, committing a season-high 22, with 14 of those coming in the first half. Illinois would capitalize by scoring 28 points of f those turnovers.

 

Playing at a Big Ten venue in the regular season for the first time in 17 years, Hawai`i was far from intimidated. The 'Bows jumped out quickly, scoring the game's first seven points, all by Balocka. It was back and forth for much of the first half and the game was tied, 22-22, with just over four minutes left until the break. But that's when the Illini got hot. Illinois went on a 17-4 run, highlighted by a trio of three-pointers, to take a 39-26 lead into the locker room.

 

The Illini wouldn't look back. UH cut the lead to nine in the opening minutes of the second half, but that would be as close as it would get. Illinois responded with an18-6 run and extended its lead to 21 points twice in the second half. A hard-charging UH squad cut the deficit to 10 in the final 1:37, but it was too little, too late.

 

The loss was UH's sixth straight on the road, dating back to last year. 

 

UH now returns to the islands for eight straight home games, starting with a match-up versus Eastern Washington on Saturday, Dec. 13. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.