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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team took down giant-killer Northern Iowa, 68-52, Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors (8-1) advance to Wednesday's semifinals where they will meet third-ranked Oklahoma.
 
UH used a huge 12-0 spurt late in the second half to put away the game. Four straight steals by Isaac Fleming – three of which resulted in fast-break lay-ups – gave UH an insurmountable 21-point lead with four and a half minutes left.
 
Fleming finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and six steals. Three other 'Bows finished in double-figures led by guard Aaron Valdes' 15 points. Sai Tummala added 12 points and four boards while Stefan Jovanovic chipped in with 11 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks. As a team, UH shot 43.1 percent from the field and out-rebounded UNI 31-to-23. The 'Bows also recorded 10 steals.
 
UNI (7-4), which was coming off its second win over a Top 5 team this season, was led by Jeremy Morgan's 13 points.
 
Hawai'i advances to the semifinals for the second straight season and third time since the tournament's inception in 2009. Last season, the 'Bows defeated Nebraska in the first round before falling to No. 11 Wichita State in the semis.
 
The 'Bows trailed early but used an 8-0 run midway through the half to take a 22-19 lead. The lead changed times four more times before UH closed out the half on a 10-0 run – including back-to-back 3-pointers by Valdes and Quincy Smith– for a 34-25 lead at the break. Hawai'i held UNI scoreless for the final six minutes while the Panthers missed their last seven shots.
 
UNI chipped into the deficit four minutes into the second half, trimming the UH lead to 41-37. UH battled with foul trouble throughout the half as bigs Stefan Jankovic and Mike Thomas each picked up their fourth fouls before the midway point. But Jovanovic stepped up huge his and-one three-point play gave the 'Bows a 50-39 lead with 11:31 left.
 
With UH leading 59-47, the Stan Sheriff Center crowd erupted as Fleming put on a show, coming up with four straight steals in a span of 47 seconds and nine straight points to put UH ahead 68-47 with 4:27 remaining.
 
Tip-off for the Hawai'i-Oklahoma game is 4:00 p.m., and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.