Box Score | Box Score (html)
Photo Gallery | Post Game Quotes
Post Game Press Conference

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The No. 5 seed University of Hawai'i men's basketball team made an early exit from the  Big West Tournament with a 71-60 quarterfinal loss to No. 4 seed UC Irvine Thursday night at the Honda Center.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (17-14) gave a spirited second-half effort but it wasn't enough to overcome a miserable first half. UH's season likely concluded with the loss, but the 'Bows—with their second winning record in the last three years—hold an outside hope of a postseason bid
 
UC Irvine (19-14), meanwhile, continued to stay hot, winning for the eighth time in its last nine contests. The Anteaters advanced to Friday's semifinals where they will face top-seeded Long Beach State.
 
Making its first-ever appearance in the Big West Tournament, the Rainbow Warriors couldn't have scripted a worse start. UCI blitzed Hawai'i with a 17-0 run as the Rainbow Warrior went scoreless for more than seven minutes midway through the first half. The 'Bows missed 10 straight shots during that span and trailed 44-22 by the break, tied for the largest halftime deficit of the year. UH shot a dismal 27 percent in the first half while the Anteaters hit at a 58 percent clip.
 
The 'Bows came out with a sense of urgency in the second half. UH scored 11 unanswered points out of the locker room to cut the deficit in half less than four minutes in. UH continued to stay within striking distance throughtout, cutting the margin to 10 points on a pair of occasions. But that would be as close as it would get as UC Irvine turned back every UH rally.
 
Senior guard Hauns Brereton led UH with 18 points and nine rebounds while adding four assists. Senior center Vander Joaquim scored all but two of his 18 points in the second half, while first-team all-Big Wests forward Christian Standhardinger had 11 points and eight rebounds.
 
Exhibiting the same balance they've had all year, six different Anteaters finished in double-digits, led by a 13-point game from Will Davis II.  Michael Wilder notched a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
For the Rainbow Warriors it was another disappointing showing in a conference tournament.  UH has lost eight of its last nine conference tournament games dating back to 2005