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HONOLULU – Aaron Valdes had a game-high 15 points and the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team thrilled an electric Stan Sheriff Center crowd with a 66-58 win over Nebraska on Monday in the quarterfinal round of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
 
The win over the Cornhuskers (6-4) gives the 'Bows their first semifinal appearance in the tournament since 2009. Hawai'i advances to play 11^th-ranked Wichita State on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.
 
Nebraska had four players in double figures led by Terran Petteway's 14 points. Walter Pitchford added a double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The 'Bows (9-3) led by nine points at the half but Nebraska stormed out of the locker room, going on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to just three points. The Huskers came all the way back and took a 43-40 lead on back-to-back Pitchford three-pointers with just 12:23 remaining.
 
The 'Bows then came alive with consecutive steals and a series of Valdes dunks, the last a one-handed twisting slam on an alley-oop from Quincy Smith. With the score tied 53-53 and just over three minutes to play, Garrett Nevels drained a three-pointer and Roderick Bobbitt added a trey of his own one possession later to all but seal the win.
 
Nevels had 10 points on a tough shooting night but pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Bobbitt added seven points and four assists and Isaac Fleming scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds.
 
The 'Bows started the game up a bucket when Nevels sank a pair of technical free throws for a Nebraska player dunking in pregame warmups. Nevels then drained a three pointer and the 'Bows found themselves up 8-0 just over two minutes into the game.
 
Nebraska then went on an 11-3 run over the next 3:41 to even the score at 11-11. The 'Bows recovered though as Fleming found Smith for an and-one then drained a jumper to give the 'Bows the lead back at 17-13 with 9:28 remaining in the half.