Box Score | Box Score (pdf)

HONOLULU – Fueled by a high-energy effort, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team defeated Montana, 72-61, Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 5-2 overall with their third straight double-digit win.
 
UH got off to a strong start, led from start to finish and turned back every Montana attempt to get back in the game. The Rainbow Warriors gave another hallmark effort on defense holding Montana (1-4) to a season-low 36 percent shooting, including 19 percent (5-of-27) from three-point land. The Grizziles entered the game as one of the best shooting teams in the nation at better than 50 percent.
 
Christian Standhardinger led Hawai'i with a season-high 26 points. Fellow frontcourt force Isaac Fotu also took advantage of Montana inside, scoring 13 points despite an injured hand. Brandon Spearman chipped in 13 points and spearheaded the team's defensive effort with his work against the Grizzlies' do-everything guard Kareem Jamar. Jamar was held scoreless in the first half and finished with 16 points with most of his points coming with the game already in hand.
 
UH got off to fast start, scoring 15 of the game's first 17 points. The Rainbow Warriors controlled the majority of the first half, building its lead to as may as 16 points. But the Grizzlies found some momentum late in the half with a 10-0 run and trailed by just, 31-26, at the break.
 
Montana kept that momentum going out of the locker room and cut the deficit to 36-35 minutes into the half. But UH didn't back down, going on a 14-2 run to push the lead back to double-digits. It was a lead they would maintain throughout as the 'Bows put away the Grizziles with sheer hustle on both ends of the court.
 
UH won despite shooting just 13-of-28 from the free throw line.
 
The Rainbow Warriors next head to the road where they will face their second straight Big Sky opponent in Northern Arizona on Saturday, Dec. 7. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. MT (4:00 p.m. HT).