Box Score

MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team's attempt at a road sweep was turned back by Idaho in a 75-61 loss Saturday night at the Cowan Spectrum. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 13-10 overall and 4-7 in the Western Athletic Conference.

 

After an exhilarating win at Boise State on Thursday night, the 'Bows entered Saturday's game with a prime opportunity to move up the WAC standings. A win would have put the Rainbow Warriors in a tie for fourth place. Instead UH had its modest two-game road win streak snapped and fell to the Vandals for the sixth time in the last seven meetings. Idaho (13-10, 6-5 WAC), meanwhile, halted a four-game losing streak.

 

Vander Joaquim led UH, recording his second straight double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Joston Thomas chipped in 12 points, while Zane Johnson returned from a one-game absence and finished with nine points.

 

Jeff Ledbetter led the Vandals with 15 points, while draining four of the team's 10 three pointers. Brandon Wiley added 13 points.

 

UH got off to a fast start and held a 17-10 lead midway through the first half. But Stephen Madison hit three straight three-pointers to spark a string of 15 unanswered points to give Idaho a 25-17 lead. The Vandals eventually took a 38-32 lead into the locker room with both teams shooting better than 50 percent from the floor.

 

Idaho kept its hot hand in the second half and a decisive 22-11 run put the Vandals up, 60-43, with a little more than 12 minutes remaining. UH put together a brief rally, cutting the deficit to 10 points. But that would be as close as the Rainbow Warriors would get as a stretch of five scoreless minutes would seal their fate.

 

The 'Bows will now have a nine-day layoff before taking on Nevada at home on Monday, Feb. 14. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.