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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball gave its fans a Valentine's treat with a 69-67 overtime win over Nevada Monday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. Jeremiah Ostrowski's jumper with 21 seconds left in overtime proved the game winner as UH improved to 14-10 overall and 5-7 in the Western Athletic Conference.  

 

It was the second straight home game that UH found itself in an overtime tangle . But unlike its double-overtime marathon against Utah State, this one had a happy ending. Ostrowski, who again saw extended time at the point,  missed his first seven shots only to nail two huge baskets in the final minute, including the game-winner.

 

Meanwhile, UH's frontcourt came up big in the win. Vander Joaquim poured in a career high 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including two huge baskets in overtime. The junior also adding nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Bill Amis recorded 15 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks in an inspired effort.

 

The tandem, along with the help of Trevor Wiseman, got the job done on the defensive end holding Nevada (10-15, 7-5 WAC) bigs Dario Hunt and Olek Czyz to a combined 11 points. Hunt and Czyz combined for 46 points in the Wolf Pack's 17-point win over UH on Dec. 31.

 

The 'Bows held Nevada to just 28 percent shooting in the first half and overtime period to help pull out the win, just UH's second in its last 10 meetings with Nevada. With the win UH moved into sixth place in the WAC and reached its most wins in a season since 2006-07.

 

Deonte Burton led Nevada with 21 points, including a number of key three-pointers to keep Nevada in contention. It was the second straight overtime game for the Wolf Pack, who won at San Jose State on Saturday.

 

Playing its first game in nine days, UH showed some rust early on. But the 'Bows broke open a tight game with a 12-2 run that gave them a 30-20 lead. UH held the Wolf Pack to just 28 percent in the first half, but Nevada cut the lead to just five at the break, 32-27, after a deep Burton three-pointer. 

 

The second half was back-and-forth with neither team leading by more than six points. Each team had a chance to win the game at regulation but were long on three-point attempts in their final possessions.

 

UH never trailed in overtime and held a three-point lead with less than a minute before a Burton three-pointer tied the game with less than a minute. After Ostrowski's go-ahead basket with 21 seconds, the Wolf Pack had a chance to answer on their final possession, but Cyyz's short jumper was off the mark.

 

UH now steps out of conference and to take on UC Davis on the road Saturday, Feb. 19. Tipoff is 7:00 p.m.