HONOLULU –  The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team built a double-digit second-half lead before holding off a UC Santa Barbara rally in a thrilling 77-76 win Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 12-5 overall and 3-1 with their third straight Big West win.
 
Aside for trailing briefly in the game's opening minutes, UH led throughout but needed to make some key plays down the stretch on both ends of the court to nab the victory, its fourth in its last five contests. 
 
Gibson Johnson led UH with a team-high 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting. The senior forward scored 14 of those points in the second half, including a free throw with eight seconds left to give UH a four-point lead and in effect seal the win.  
 
UCSB's Max Heidegger, the league's top scorer, poured in a game-high 22 points and helped fuel the Gauchos' rally with all but three of this points in the second half.
 
Both teams came out on fire. UH hit its first seven shots and nine of its first 10, while UCSB drilled four three-pointers early on to keep pace. UH shot 58 percent in the first half to take a 42-33 lead at the break.
 
The 'Bows continued its hot shooting out of the locker room and expanded its margin to as many as 16 points less than five minutes into the second half. But the Gauchos (12-5, 1-2 BWC) stormed back with 10 straight points to get right back in the game.
 
UH, however, refused to relinquish its lead. A Gabe Vincent layup made it a one-point game, 64-63, with 4:10 left. UH responded with a three-pointer from Jack Purchase and got another huge three-pointer from Drew Buggs when UH was clinging to a four-point lead with one minute left. The 'Bows then sealed the game at the free throw line where they scored their final five points.  
 
Brocke Stepteau added 12 points and a game-high five assists for UH, while Mike Thomas and Sheriff Drammeh each chipped in 11 points.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will continue its four-game homestand with a matchup against UC Davis next Saturday, Jan. 20. Tipoff is 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.