HONOLULU – In a frenetic game that saw both teams light up the scoreboard, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team pulled off an astounding 114-107 overtime win over Long Beach State Saturday night before a boisterous crowd at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
Noah Allen hit a driving layup at the buzzer to end regulation and force overtime as UH (7-9, 1-2 BWC) overcame a 13-point second-half deficit. Allen finished with 25 points and was one of four players to set career-high marks for the 'Bows who picked up their first Big West win of the year.
 
UH's 114 points were its most-ever in a conference game, spanning more than 37 years both in the Big West and WAC. The 114 points was also the most UH has ever scored in the Stan Sheriff Center against a Division I opponent.
 
The win comes on the heels of a pair of road losses at Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine in which UH struggled offensively. The 'Bows did anything but against Long Beach State (6-14, 1-3 BWC), shooting a season-high 61 percent from the floor.  
 
The 49ers shot a sizzling 54 percent, got a game-high 27 points from Evan Payne, and led for nearly all of regulation. But it wasn't enough against a hungry Rainbow Warrior squad who refused to go away. 

It was the first meeting between the teams since last year's Big West Tournament championship game and it turned out to be an epic rematch. The 'Bows trailed 47-40 at half and 64-51 with just under 13 minutes to go. But UH went on an incredible stretch in which they scored on 14 straight possessions, including 11 straight field goals made. The run was fueled by the likes of Leland Green (25 points), Jack Purchase (25 points, seven three pointers) and Zigmars Raimo (11) who each set new career-highs.
 
However, Long Beach State wouldn't relinquish the lead and that set the stage for the dramatic finish. After a pair of Justin Bibbins free throws put the 49ers up 93-91, UH needed to go the length of the court in 3.1 seconds and they did just that with Allen providing the finishing touch at the buzzer.
 
Once in overtime, the 'Bows kept their momentum as UH scored the first seven points of the extra period and never looked back.  
 
The Rainbow Warrior continue its conference homestand with a meeting versus CSUN on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.