Box Score

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team got off to a sluggish start before putting it into overdrive in a 100-73 blowout win over South Carolina State Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 8-5 with their sixth win in their last seven games.
 
The 'Bows actually trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half and by one point at the break before absolutely throttling the Bulldogs in the second half. UH out-scored South Carolina State, 59-31, after the break en route to posting its highest point total since 2002.
 
Hauns Brereton gave UH a huge jolt off the bench, scoring a career-high 22 points and helping lead UH's second-half surge. Brereton scored 10 of the team's first 12 points after the break, including a rim-rattling dunk that gave UH a 50-48 lead, just its second lead of the game and one they wouldn't relinquish. The bucket sparked a 12-0 run and opened the flood gates as the 'Bows built its lead to as many as 36 points.
 
Zane Johnson added 14 points for the Bows, while Joston Thomas recorded his second career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. All 12 Rainbow Warriors who suited up saw action with 11 getting in the scoring column.
 
After big wins over Xavier and Clemson, UH suffered from a holiday hangover as the Bulldogs jumped all over UH.  UH trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half and it was a 36-26 deficit with four minutes left in the half.  UH, however, closed out strong with 15-6 run, capped by a Johnson three-pointer at end of the half, to cut the deficit to just one point and give the Rainbow Warriors much needed momentum.
 
That momentum carried over in the second half as UH shot  57 percent from the field, while also getting it done on the defense end by holding the Bulldogs (4-9) to just 29 percent shooting. UH finished with season-highs in assists (21) and steals (14).
 
The 'Bows will now face its second nationally ranked team in a week when it faces No. 19 UNLV on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3:00 p.m. It will be the team's final non-conference game before heading into league play on Jan. 7.