Box Score
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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai`i Rainbow Warrior basketball won its second straight game to start the season with a 73-65 victory over McNeese State in the Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic Sunday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The win gave UH its fist 2-0 start since 2004.

 

Dwain Williams led four Rainbow Warriors in double figures with 20 points, including16 in the first half. Roderick Flemings recorded his second straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and scored two key baskets down the stretch as the 'Bows scored the game's final seven points to thwart a Cowboy comeback. Jeremy Lay added 11 points, while Petras Balocka chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.

 

The win propelled the 'Bows into the Rainbow Classic championship game where they will meet Northern Colorado on Monday night. The Bears improved to 2-0 in the tournament with a 73-51 win over Southern Utah in day's first game. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN as part of the College Hoops Tip-off Marathon with an 11:00 p.m. tipoff.  The Bows will be seeking its 12^th Classic title and first since 2006.

 

UH led for most of the game versus McNeese State (0-2), including double-digit leads in both halves, but had to weather a second-half surge by the Cowboys. Behind four 3-pointer by Williams, UH led 37-30 at the break and eventually built its lead to as many as 12 points five minutes in to the second half.

 

But McNeese crept back in and a Patrick Richard layup with nine minutes left made it just a 56-55 lead. The Cowboys continued to hang tough and again closed with one point, 66-65, with just 2:36 left. But Flemings scored two straight buckets down low to give UH a five-point lead, and held the Cowboys scoreless the rest of the way.

 

UH dominated the free throw line and glass. For the game UH shot 22 of 30 from the line, while McNeese State did not attempt a single free throw. The Rainbow Warriors also out-rebounded the Cowboys, 38-24.