Box Score

MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball nabbed a key Western Athletic Conference win with a 76-70 victory against Idaho Saturday night at the Cowan Spectrum. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 12-9 overall and 4-3 in the WAC.
 
UH shot a season best 56 percent from the floor and clamped down on defense late in the game to pick up its second WAC road win of the year. With the first half of the WAC schedule complete, UH moved into a three-way tie for third-place with Idaho (11-10, 4-3 WAC) and Utah State.
 
Four played scored in double figures for UH led by Vander Joaquim with 18 points and nine rebounds. Joston Thomas, who energized the Bows and made numerous big plays down the stretch, finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. Zane Johnson poured in 16 points, while Hauns Brereton added 15.
 
Djim Bandoumel scored a career-high 24 points for the Vandals, while Stephen Madison added 15 points. UH held leading scorer Deremy Geiger to just four points on 2-of-9 shooting.
 
It was a close game throughout, but it was UH that made the big plays in the end. The Vandals held a narrow 36-35 lead at halftime. Following the break there were five more ties and five more lead changes
 
Idaho took a four-point lead early in the half but UH went on a 10-2 run to go up 56-51. The Vandals battled back for a 60-59 lead with 8:38 remaining, but a Johnson three-pointer on UH's next possession gave them a lead they refused to relinquish the rest of the game.
 
The result was still in doubt in the closing minutes until the 'Bows, nursing a two-point lead, got a huge three-point play from Thomas with 1:37 left to gave UH a 70-65 cushion. The 'Bows then held the Vandals scoreless on three of their next four possessions, while sealing the game on the line with six consecutive free throws.
 
UH snapped Idaho's four-game win streak, while beating the Vandals for the first time since 2009. The 'Bows had lost four straight meetings in the series.
 
Hawai'i will next play its third straight road game when it travels to San Jose State for a meeting with the Spartans on Saturday, Feb. 4. Tipoff is 7:00 p.m. PT (5:00 p.m. HT).