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HONOLULU – Spearheaded by Aaron Valdes' career night on both sides of the ball, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior basketball team burst out of the gates with a season-opening 85-57 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic, Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
Valdes put the 'Bows on his back, setting career highs with 28 points and nine rebounds to go along with three steals. Negus Webster-Chan had 16 points on a solid 6-12 shooting in his much anticipated debut.
 
Arkansas Pine-Bluff was led by Marcel Mosley and JoVaughn Love's 18 and 15 points, respectively.
 
The 'Bows struggled from the field in the first half but Valdes and a plus-nine rebound disparity gave UH the lead at halftime. The 'Bows crashed the boards early but it were the Red Lions that held a 16-14 lead at the second media timeout. The 'Bows then came alive when swarming defense led to six straight points and their first lead of the game at 19-18.
 
Hawai'i came out on fire in the second half. Webster-Chan scored on a strong post move then drained one beyond the arc to spearhead an 8-0 run to start run to start the half. The 'Bows kept their distance until they reeled off 21 straight points to blow the doors wide open and take an 80-51 lead with under six minutes to play. Garrett Nevels (11 pts), Roderick Bobbitt (11 pts, 7 reb), and Webster-Chan all dialed long-distance in the run.
 
The 'Bows will next face Cal State Bakersfield, who lost a marathon four-overtime battle against High Point, on night two of the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic on Saturday, Nov.15 at 7:30 p.m. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and High Point will square off before that at 5:00 p.m.