Box Score

KAILUA-KONA, Hawai'i – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team redeemed itself from a poor first half with a stellar second-half effort in a 79-66 win over Hawai'i-Hilo Friday night at Kealakehe Gym. UH improved to 4-4 on the season and has now won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
 
In the first regular-season meeting between the teams in 21 years and UH's first Big Island appearance in 10 years, the Rainbow Warriors trailed the Division II Vulcans (4-3) by double-digits in the first half, before exploding for 47 points after the break to pick up the win.
 
Shaquille Stokes scored a career high 21 points to lead all UH scorers. Meanwhile, Vander Joquim recorded his second straight double-double with 19 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. Joaquim keyed UH's second-half surge scoring 14 of his points in the decisive half. Joston Thomas, meanwhile, chipped in season-high 17 points for the 'Bows.
 
Terrell Mack led the Vulcans with 20 points.
 
UH got off to a horrific start as an energized Vulcan squad jumped out to a double-digit lead just six minutes in. Mack hit a trio of three-pointers to help UHH build an 11-point advantage on several occasions, including a 25-14 lead with a little under eight minutes left in the half. The 'Bows went on a 12-2 run, including a string of nine straight points, to pull within one point and trailed 34-32 at the break.
 
After a less-than-inspiring effort in the first half, UH exploded out of the locker room. The 'Bows went on a 15-2 run to start the second half. Zane Johnson's layup less than a minute into the second half gave UH its first lead of the game and Stokes' three-point play four minutes in gave the UH its first double-digit lead, 47-36. With a UH boasting a superior size advantage, the team went inside to Joaquim early and often as he scored 10 points in the first nine minutes of the second half.
 
UH Hilo battled back to cut the deficit to 51-49 at the 10-minute mark, but UH reeled off 14 straight points to effectively put the Vulcans away. The 'Bows shot 51 percent in the second half, while holding UH Hilo to just 33 percent shooting after the break.
 
UH continues its neighbor island tour with a trip to the Valley Isle for a meeting with North Carolina A&T on Sunday, Dec. 18. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m. at War Memorial Gym in Wailuku, Maui.