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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team suffered one of its most frustrating losses of the season with a 75-64 setback to UC Santa Barbara Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 15-7 overall and 4-4 in the Big West with their second home loss in the last three games.
 
The shots simply wouldn't fall for a Rainbow Warrior squad that has statistically been one of the best offensive squads in the country. UH shot a season-low 37 percent and  particularly struggled from three-point territory where they made just three of its 19 attempts.  
 
The Gauchos, meanwhile, shot 53 percent in the second half, including some timely three-point shooting in the final six-minute stretch to stave off Hawai'i.
 
With the loss, the 'Bows slipped to two games behind the pace at the midway point of the Big West season.  USCB (15-6, 6-2) currently sits in a tie for first-place with UC Irvine.
 
All-conference forward Alan Williams led UCSB with 20 points and 17 rebounds, while Michael Bryson added 18 points. Isaac Fotu registered 17 points and eight rebounds, for UH while Christian Standhardinger posted 15 points and nine rebounds.
 
UH got off to a strong start, putting the clamps on UCSB early. The 'Bows built its lead to as many as nine points and led for nearly the entirety of the first half before taking a 37-34 advantage into the locker room.
 
The second half saw seven lead changes in the first four minutes before the Gauchos went on a game-changing 12-2 run. That gave them a 55-46 lead with 12 minutes remaining. UH continued to rally in the final stretch, but the Gauchos turned back each attempt and hit a trio of three-pointers with the shot clock winding down. UH sealed its fate in the second half by shooting just 9-of-28 (.321) from the field.
 
The Rainbow Warriors conclude their four-game homestand when they host Cal Poly on Saturday, Feb. 8. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.