Box Score
Post Game Quotes

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai`i men's basketball team nearly completed a monumental comeback before eventually falling to UC Irvine, 76-70. Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 13-13 on the season with the loss.

 

The 'Bows cut a 20-point second-half deficit to just one point late in the contest, but it wasn't enough as UH dropped its second straight home game. The Anteaters (10-17), meanwhile picked up their second straight win.

 

Chad DeCasas came off the bench to score 19 points to lead five Anteaters in double-digits. DeCasas entered the game averaging just 2.7 ppg. Eric Wise finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds and hit a clutch three-pointer late in the game to help seal the win.

 

UH was led by Kareem Nitoto who finished with 18 points. The sophomore guard scored all but two of his points after the break to spearhead Hawai`i's second-half rally. Bill Amis finished with his second career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Roderick Flemings and Adhar Mayen each contributed 12 points.

 

UC Irvine built its lead early on with a barrage of three-pointers. The Anteaters nailed seven of their first nine three point attempts and finished with eight in the first half alone to burst ahead of the 'Bows. The Anteaters led by as many as 16 points before taking a 38-24 lead into the break.

 

The UH deficit ballooned to 20 points in the second half and UH trailed, 48-28 with less than 13 minutes remaining in the game. But UH went on a 32-13 run over the next 11 minutes and when Brandon Adams converted on two free throws, UH trailed just 61-60 with 1:59 remaining. But that was a close as it would get as UC Irvine sealed the win at the free throw line.

 

UC Irvine was limited to just one three pointer in the second half, but  buried 17-of-19 free throws in the second half and finished 19-of-21 (91 percent) for the game. The Anteaters hit all 11 of its attempts in the final two minutes.

 

The 'Bows next head back to the road for a pair of Western Athletic Conference contests at Utah State (Feb. 26) and San Jose State (Feb. 28).