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HONOLULU – In an epic battle between two conference heavyweights UC Irvine clipped Hawai`i, 60-56, in overtime Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 18-8 overall and 7-5 in the Big West while watch their hopes for a regular-season title slip away.

UH had an opportunity to move within a half game of league-leading UC Irvine (18-9, 9-2 Big West) but instead fell back to fourth place in the standings and 2.5 games behind the Anteaters with four regular-season games remaining. UCI, meanwhile won their fifth straight game.  
 
UH committed just eight turnovers, shot 20-of-23 from the line and held the Anteaters to just 38 percent shooting. But in a match-up between the league's top offense versus the top defense, it was the defense that came out on top. The Anteaters held UH to season-lows in points (56) and shooting percentage (30 percent). UH shot just 4-of-17 (24 percent) from beyond the arc and did not score a single field goal in the decisive overtime period.

Christian Standhardinger led UH with 12 points, but scored just two points after the break. Isaac Fotu notched his third double-double of the year with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Garret Nevels scored 10 points.

Luke Nelson led a balanced UCI attack with 12 points. Mamdou Ndiaye notched 11 points and nine rebounds, while provided the defensive presence that slowed the Hawai'i attack down.

It was a slugfest from the opening whistle. UH held a slim 26-25 halftime advantage and led by as many as seven points in both the first and second halves. The game was ultimately tied in the final minute of regulation with both teams having a chance to win it. However Garrett Nevel's floater in the lane went off the back of the iron with 17 seconds left and Luke Nelson's three-pointer on UCI's ensuing possession fell well short as the team's would play their second overtime game of the year.

The Anteaters scored on the first possession of overtime on a Will Davis alley-oop dunk. It would be the only field goal of overtime as the team's combined to go just 1-of-10 from the field. UH trailed just 56-54 with less than a minute remaining and had an opportunity to take the lead. However Brandon Spearman's three-point attempt fell off the mark and the Anteaters secured the game with four consecutive free throws.  

The Rainbow Warriors will look to rebound when they host UC Davis on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m.