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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team gave all its guts but got none of the glory in a 65-62 loss to Auburn in the opening round of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH saw its modest three-game win streak snapped in dropping to 5-5 on the season.
 
With the loss, the Rainbow Warriors were relegated to the tournament's consolation bracket where they will face No. 14 Xavier at 8:30 p.m. Auburn advanced to the tournament semifinals and will meet Long Beach State.
 
UH trailed for the entire game, including by eight points with a little more than two minutes remaining. But  a gritty Rainbow Warrior squad wouldn't quit and seized the lead for the first time with 8.6 second left on a Vander Joaquim bucket, sending an energetic home crowd into a frenzy. However, the Tigers (8-1) raced down the court on the ensuing possession and got a dunk from Rob Chubb with 3.5 seconds to deny UH the comeback win.
 
Zane Johnson led UH with 18 points, while Joston Thomas added 12 points. Joaquim finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. Frankie Sullivan led Auburn with 17 points, while Chubb chipped in 14 points.
 
UH got off to a slow start offensively, nailing just three of its first 13 shots. The Rainbow Warrriors fell behind by as many as 11 points before closing the deficit to 35-29 at the break.
 
The 'Bows fell behind by again nine points early in the second half, but again would rally and would never let the Tigers pull away. A Kenny Gabriel jumper with 2:36 left gave the Tigers a 59-51. UH went 11-2 run over the next two minutes to seize its first lead of the game, 62-61, only to see it taken away just five seconds later.
 
 
First Round Results
UTEP 61, Clemson 48
Kansas State 83, Southern Illinois 58
Long Beach State 68, No. 14 Xavier 58
Auburn 65, Hawai'i 62
 
 
Dec. 23 Schedule
Consolation: Clemson vs. Southern Illinois, 10:00 a.m.
Semifinal: UTEP vs. Kansas State, 12:00 p.m.
Semifinal: Long Beach State vs. Auburn, 6:00 p.m.
Consolation: Xavier vs. Hawai'i, 8:30 p.m.