HONOLULU – Powered by a first-half surge, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team coasted past Northern Arizona, 85-68, Sunday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. Eddie Stansberry led four players in double-digits with 19 points as the Rainbow Warriors improved to 3-1 on the young season.
 
A week after a disheartening home loss to North Texas, UH bounced back with a strong effort on both sides of the court. UH held the Lumberjacks (2-2) to just 36 percent shooting in the first half. Offensively the Rainbow Warriors shot a season-high 56 percent and had their way inside with 42 points in the paint. The 'Bows did so while wearing retro jersey's inspired by the UH teams of the 1990s. 
 
Zigmars Raimo did most of the damage for UH inside with 17 points. Meanwhile, Drew Buggs was the maestro of the UH offense, finishing with eight assists, while also adding nine points and four rebounds.
 
UH trailed for a grand total of 37 seconds early in the game and took the lead for good five minutes in. It was the final eight-plus minutes of the first half though that changed the game. Clinging to a 23-22 lead, the 'Bows closed out with an 18-3 run to take a comfortable 41-25 lead into the locker room.
 
Stansberry would score 11 of UH's points during the decisive run, including a trio of three-pointers. The junior guard finished with five three-pointers in all, the second time in four games this year he's hit as many.
 
The 'Bows built its lead to as many as 20 points early in the second half. The Lumberjacks cut the lead to single-digits on two occasions, including 59-50, with 7:50 remaining. But UH slammed the door shut with a 12-3 run that doubled its lead to 18 points with less than five minutes left.
 
The Rainbow Warriors, who opened with four straight road games, will now play its next four games on the road, beginning with the Wooden Legacy, Nov. 22-25, in Fullerton, Calif. UH will open the tournament versus Utah on Thursday, Nov. 22 at 8:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. HT