Box Score

MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Hawai`i Rainbow Warrior basketball team dropped its Western Athletic Conference road opener to Idaho, 67-47, Thursday night at the Cowan Spectrum. UH fell to 9-6 overall and 1-2 in the WAC with the loss.

 

UH suffered its largest margin of defeat this season, while scoring just 47 points, its lowest point total since a 55-47 home loss to Nevada in March 2005. The 'Bows shot a season-low 30 percent from the field and converted on just 14 field goals for the game.

 

UH trailed by just six at halftime, but the Vandals slowly pulled away after the break. UH sealed its fate midway through the second half after going scoreless for six straight minutes. Idaho doubled its lead to 20 points during that span. The Vandals shot 68 percent in the second half, while UH made just six field goals after the break and were out-scored 37-23.

 

Idaho finished the game shooting 53 percent from the floor, the best percentage by a UH opponent this year. Rashif Watson scored a game-high 19 points to lead Idaho. Mac Hopson added 14 points and seven assists as the improved Vandals (8-8, 2-1 WAC) have already equaled its win total from last season.

 

Roderick Flemings led UH with 16 points, including four of UH's six three-pointers, Lasha Parghalava came off the bench to score 12 points. Parghalava, however, shot just 2-of-13 from the floor and scored seven of his points from the line.

 

The Rainbow Warriors played without point guard Hiram Thompson, who had started the last four straight games. The 'Bows also got limited playing time from second-leading scorer Petras Balocka, who finished scoreless in nine minutes.

 

The loss was UH's second on the road this year and eighth straight away from home dating back to last season. The 'Bows last win on the road came at Idaho in January 2007.

 

UH concludes its two-game Idaho road swing with a meeting versus Boise State as UH looks to avenge a 70-58 loss in the WAC opener for both teams last Saturday. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. MT (4:05 HT) Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Taco Bell Arena.