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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team endured one of its most frustrating games of the season with a 59-44 loss Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 9-6 overall and 0-3 in the Western Athletic Conference with their third straight loss.

 

UH was out of sync offensively as the 'Bows posted their lowest point total in nearly 13 years. The Rainbow Warriors shot just 29 percent from the field, including just 3-of-22 from three-point territory. The team's offensive woes negated a solid defensive effort by the Bows who forced 21 turnovers and held the Vandals to 59 points.

 

The 'Bows welcomed the return of forward Bill Amis to the lineup after a 10-game absence. The senior captain provided the team an emotional lift early but UH still couldn't overcome its first 0-3 start in WAC since the 2000-01 season. Amis finished with six points, two rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 29 minutes.

 

Hiram Thompson led UH with nine points and added four rebounds. Vander Joaquim was the team's top rebounder with seven. Kyle Barone led Idaho (8-6, 2-1 WAC) with 15 points, while Jeff Ledbetter tallied 14 points and nine rebounds.

 

UH got off to a fast start scoring eight of the game's first 10 points. However, the Vandals clawed back in and scored 11 unanswered points midway through the half to take a nine-point lead, 29-20. Idaho eventually took a 34-29 lead into the locker room.

 

Things didn't get any better for UH in the second half as the Vandals scored the first eight points after the break to take a 13-point lead, 42-29. The 'Bows wouldn't get any closer than nine points the rest of the way as UH scored just five points in the first 10 minutes of the second half and 15 points total after the break.

 

UH next hosts Boise State on Saturday, Jan. 8. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. and will follow the women's contest against Louisiana Tech at 5:00 p.m.