HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team used a first-half explosion to cruise past Humboldt State, 90-54, on the second evening of the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic  at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
After a slow start, the Rainbow Warriors (2-0) scored 20 unanswered points midway through the first half and didn't relent. UH took a 26-point halftime lead before its lead ballooned to as many as 38 after the break.  
 
UH once again sported a balanced attack with four players in double-digits. Eddie Stansberry led the way with 16 points and Jack Purchase added 15. Brocke Stepteau had 13 points while freshman center Mate Colina added 10 points.  
 
The 'Bows were also stout defensively, holding the Division II Lumberjacks (0-2) to just 36 percent shooting, including 28 percent in the first half.
 
Both teams were slow out of the gates. UH began the game just 1-of-7 from behind the arc and clung to a 13-11 lead 10 minutes in. But UH then proceeded to hit six of its next eight three-point attempts to help fuel the decisive 20-0 run. Purchase and Stansberry combined for seven three pointers in the first half alone as UH led 47-21. The pair finished a 10-of-17 from behind the arc.
 
For the second straight night, UH took care of the ball, committing just eight turnovers. Eleven of the 13 players who saw action for UH got in the scoring column, while the Bows got exactly half its points from its reserves (45 points).
 
UH's win sets up a Rainbow Classic championship matchup with North Texas (3-0). The Mean Green picked up their second win of the tournament with a 78-73 victory over Portland in the first contest of the day. Tipoff  for Sunday's  matchup will be at 6 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.