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VIDEO: Post-Game Press Conference
VIDEO: Game Highlights

ANAHEIM, Calif.- The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team advanced to the Big West Conference Tournament finals for the second consecutive year following an 88-76 victory over UC Santa Barbara in the semifinal round Friday at the Honda Center.
 
The top-seeded Rainbow Warriors (26-5) snapped UCSB's nine-game win streak to advance to the championship game along with their women's counterpart, making it a UH championship doubleheader for the second straight year. The Warriors will meet the winner of the UC Irvine and Long Beach State game in Saturday's title game at 8:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. HT), which will be televised live on ESPN2.
 
Big West Player of the Year Stefan Jankovic recorded his ninth 20-point game of the season and finished with a team-high 24 points that included three treys while also adding seven rebounds. First-team all-conference guard Roderick Bobbitt finished with 21 points including four treys, along with six rebounds, five assists, and four steals. The 'Bows also relied on junior guard Aaron Valdes who recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.
 
UH shot 52 percent from the field, including 9-of-21 from long range, and assisted on 20 of its 26 baskets. The 'Bows held the Gauchos (18-13) to 32.4 percent shooting in the second half.
 
Hawai'i broke open the game early in the second half, out-scoring UCSB 21-3 in the first five-plus minutes. A dunk from Valdes, a steal and deep three from Bobbitt, opened up the scoring and the 'Bows never let up. Bobbitt followed it with consecutive threes starting a 14-0 run which put UH on top 58-37 with 14:20 left in the half.
 
Down 21 and switching to a full-court press, UCSB trimmed the 'Bows lead to 64-52 with under eight minutes to play. Moments later, Alex Hart scored eight straight points, with a two threes, to narrow down the deficit to 10 with 3:48 remaining. But Jankovic threw down a baseline dunk and Valdes' breakaway slam put the 'Bows up 12 with about a minute left.
 
Michael Bryson led UCSB with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Gabe Vincent added 17 points.
 
UH looked like they'd blow it wide open in the first half, surging to a 25-11 lead behind Jankovic's 10 early points. But UCSB slowly chipped away as point guard Eric Childress recorded three of his six steals as the Gauchos eventually took a 31-30 lead following a 20-5 run. The 'Bows answered and closed out the half with a long three by Bobbitt just before the halftime buzzer for a 37-34 lead.
 
UH swept the series, winning all three meetings with the Gauchos this season.