Box Score

RENO, Nev. – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team came tantalizingly close to a historic win before falling victim to a late Nevada rally in a 77-74 loss Saturday night at the Lawlor Events Center. The loss denied the Rainbow Warriors (10-7, 2-1 WAC) an undefeated Western Athletic Conference start and kept them winless in 15 all-time trips to Reno.
 
Deonte Burton scored a game-high 25 points, including nine of the team's final 11 points to key the Nevada (14-3, 4-0 WAC) comeback. Olek Czyk added 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Malik Story scored 15 to give the Wolf Pack their 11^th straight win and keep them atop the WAC standings.  
 
Vander Joaquim led UH with 22 points, seven rebounds and a career-high seven blocks. Joston Thomas poured in 21 points, while Zane Johnson added 11. Jeremiah Ostrowki again was efficient at the point, dishing out nine assists.  
 
UH seemed poised to pick up its first-ever win at Nevada, taking a seven-point lead, 70-63, on a Joaquim three-point play with 4:48 left. But the Wolf Pack scored 10 unanswered points—capped by a Burton three-pointer with 2:07 left—to give Nevada the lead for good. The 'Bows did have an opportunity to send the game into overtime on its last possession but their upset bid faded as Johnson's contested three-point attempt from the wing fell off the mark.
 
UH shot 50 percent for the game but went without a field goal during a crucial four-minute period down the stretch and turned the ball over on two possessionsritical possessions late in the game.
 
The last five minutes spoiled an otherwise brilliant effort for the Rainbow Warriors who were looking for its second straight road win after beating Fresno State in overtime on Thursday. UH came out to play from the opening tip and engaged in a back-and-forth affair. The lead was changed 10 times in the first half alone as the Wolf Pack took a narrow 35-34 advantage at the break.
 
UH went on a 12-6 run out of the locker room and led for much of the second half. The Rainbow Warriors built its lead to seven points on a pair of occasions late in the game, but ultimately couldn't hang on.
 
The Rainbow Warriors now return home to take on Louisiana Tech on Thursday, Jan. 19. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.