Box Score

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team got back in the win column with a thrilling 75-70 victory over Pacific Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. Garrett Jefferson's three-point play with 3.1 seconds left proved the game-winner as UH improved to 2-2 on the season.
 
Following two straight double-digit losses, UH earned a feel-good win against its future Big West nemesis. The Rainbow Warriors did not trail in the final 30 minutes of the game but needed Jefferson's heroics to pull off the win.
 
UH held a nine-point lead with six minutes remaining, but the Tigers (2-2) chipped away and tied the game, 70-70, on a Trevin Harris three-pointer with 13 seconds left. The 'Bows then charged down the court with Shaquille Stokes firing a three-pointer from the top of the key that rattled out. Jefferson eventually got a hold of the ball and converted the put-back while also getting fouled.   The sophomore guard banked the ensuing free throw to help seal the UH win.
 
Zane Johnson led UH with 21 points and hit 10 of his 11 free throw attempts, including the final two after Pacific failed to get a shot off on its final possession. Stokes, the team's talented freshman point guard, orchestrated the UH offense with 10 assists to just one turnover, while junior forward Joston Thomas gave UH an energetic presence with his first start of the season, scoring 14 points before fouling out with a little more than four minutes left.
 
Meanwhile, Trevor Wiseman recorded his second double-double of the early season with 10 points and 10 rebounds and registered one of the key plays late in the game with a steal and layup that gave UH a 70-67 lead.
 
Lorenzo McCloud carried the offensive load for the Tigers with 23 points, while also adding four assists.
 
The first half was close throughout with UH owning the biggest lead at eight points late in the half. Johnson scored UH's final 11 points of the half and had 17 by the break to help the 'Bows stake a slim 36-33 advantage going into the locker room.
 
Hawai'i built a nine-point lead on four separate occasions in the second half , including its final one with just 5:52 remaining. UH could never pull away, but ultimately won the game with defense (nine steals, 17 turnovers forced), ball handling (season-low 11 turnovers) and solid free throw shooting (20-of-25).
 
UH now heads to the road for a pair of games in California. The Bows will take on Pepperdine on Dec. 3, before facing Pacific in a re-match in Stockton on Dec. 6.