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HONOLULU – In a rematch of a 2011 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic first round game, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team got its revenge over Auburn in the third place game with a 79-67 victory Christmas Day at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The Rainbow Warriors (9-2) matched their best finish in the tournament after placing third last year and defeated Auburn for the first time in three all-time match-ups. Making their second appearance in the tourney, the Tigers (6-5) also tied their best finish with fourth place.
 
Two days after setting a new career-high of 32 points, UH guard Roderick Bobbitt led all scorers with 30 on 8-of-13 shooting and six 3-pointers. The senior scored 22 in the decisive second half including a huge trey with 1:07 left that all but put the game away. Forward Stefan Jankovic added 21 points and eight rebounds for the 'Bows, who matched their season-high with 10 3-pointers. UH out-rebounded the bigger Auburn squad 36-to-32.
 
The Tigers were led by guard Kareem Canty's 22 points, 20 of which came after intermission. Canty and Bryce Brown (20 points) combined for 11 3-pointers.
 
UH managed to rally from a nine-point second half deficit by using an 18-3 run spanning four and a half minutes to seize control of the game. The spurt started with a four-point play by Sai Tummala and featured a technical by Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl and six made free throws by Bobbitt, who finished the game a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. 
 
Leading 69-67, Jankovic came up with a big putback basket and Aaron Valdes converted two free throws giving UH a six-point lead with just over two minutes to play. On Auburn's ensuing possession, Canty missed a 3-point attempt and at the other end, Bobbitt sealed the win with his sixth triple. All told, the 'Bows closed out the game by out-scoring the Tigers 28-7.
  
Bobbitt and Jankovic combined for 36 of their 51 points after intermission.
 
The first half featured early runs by both teams with UH getting the early advantage following seven unanswered for a 16-8 lead. The Tigers used the long ball for a 10-0 run with threes by Tyler Harris and Brown to retake the lead at 18-16. Auburn increased its lead by 26-21 following back-to-back triples by Brown went into halftime holding on to a 30-29 lead. Brown led the Tigers with 14 first half points.
 
The 'Bows, who are off to their best 11-game start since the 2004-05 season, return to action Tuesday, Dec. 29 against Mississippi Valley State at 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.