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Zane Johnson goes up against Fresno State

Men's Basketball

Men’s Basketball Ambushed At Fresno State

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team concluded its regular season schedule with an 85-70 loss to Fresno State Saturday night at the Save Mart Center. After starting league play 0-5, the Rainbow Warriors won eight of their last 11 games to finish in a tie for fifth place in the Western Athletic Conference.
 
UH (18-11, 8-8 WAC), picked to finish last in the preseason media and coaches' polls,  claimed the fifth seed and will now face No. 8 seed San Jose State in the opening round of the WAC Tournament on Wednesday, March 9. It will be the second meeting between the teams in less than a week.
 
Hawai'i entered the game against Fresno State (14-16, 6-10 WAC) with tremendous momentum, riding a five-game win streak and coming off an exciting road win over San Jose State on Thursday. However, the 'Bows came out flat and never got into a rhythm, as an energized Bulldog squad led from wire-to-wire.
 
Zane Johnson led UH with 21 points, while Bill Amis added 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Joston Thomas chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Freshman guard Kevin Olekaibe led the Bulldogs with 17 points, while sophomore post Greg Smith recorded 16 points and 16 rebounds.
 
Fresno State jumped all over Hawai'i as the 'Bows went down 19-4 less than eight minutes into the game and trailed by 18 points, 46-28, at the break. The 46 points were the most UH surrendered in a first half all year.
 
Fresno State built its lead to as many as 21 points early in the second half. There was no quit in the 'Bows who made a late rally to cut the deficit to 10 points. But it was too-little, too-late as the Bulldogs sealed the game on the free throw line where they converted 26-of-42 attempts. .
 
After a one-year hiatus, UH returns to the WAC Tournament March 9-12, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. UH and San Jose State will play the opening game of the tournament, Wednesday, March 9 at 12:00 p.m. PT (10:00 a.m. HT).
 
-UH-
 
 
 
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