Box Score

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team captured fifth place in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic with a 75-68 win over Clemson in a nationally televised game on ESPNU, Christmas Day at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH went 2-1 in the prestigious tournament and improved to 7-5 overall with its fifth win in the last six games.
 
Zane Johnson led UH with 27 points, including 19 in the second to help the Rainbow Warrior overcome a three-point halftime deficit. Johnson finished 8-of-14 from the field and nailed 6-of-12 three-pointers in the win.  Vander Joaquim recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Hauns Brereton provided 10 points off the bench.  Jeremiah Ostrowski orchestrated a revived UH offense with eight assists.
 
Just two days after the Rainbow Warriors defeated nationally ranked Xavier in overtime, UH picked up another signature win, defeating a Clemson squad (7-6) that returned the core of its 2011 NCAA Tournament squad. It was also UH's first win against an ACC team while they were currently affiliated with the conference.
 
Unlike it last two games, the Rainbow Warriors got off to quick start and led for the first 10 minutes. The Tigers reeled off 10 unanswered points and eventually took a 34-31 lead into the locker room.
 
UH, however, took over the second half, scoring the first nine points after the break to retake a lead they would never relinquish. Johnson's three-pointer at the 7:13 mark gave UH its first double-digit lead and the team maintained an 11-point lead with a minute remaining, before staving off a late Clemson rally.
 
Hawai'i shot a sizzling 60 percent in the second half, while holding the Tigers to just 36 percent shooting after the break. UH nailed 16-of-19 from the free throw line and out-rebounded Clemson, 37-29.
 
Kansas State captured the tournament title with a 77-60 win over Long Beach State. 

Hawai'i will next take to the court at home against South Carolina State on Thursday, Dec. 29. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m., following the women's basketball game against Florida Gulf Coast. 
 
 
Dec. 25 Results
7^th Place: Xavier 87, Southern Illinois 77
5^th Place: Hawai'i 75, Clemson 68
3rd Place: UTEP 83,  Auburn76
Championship: Kansas State 77, Long Beach State 60


All-Tournament Team
Larry Anderson, Long Beach State
Zane Johnson, Hawai'i
Rodney McGruder, Kansas State
Michael Perez, UTEP
Jamar Samuels, Kansas State
MVP: Rodney McGruder, Kansas State