LOS ANGELES – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team found themselves in a deep hole early and couldn't recover in an 80-61 loss to UCLA Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 4-4 with their third straight setback on the mainland.

Prince Ali scored a game-high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting to fuel a hot-shooting Bruins (5-2) squad. UCLA shot 57 from the field in the first half and drilled eight three-pointers to take a commanding 19-point lead at the intermission.
 
UH, meanwhile, couldn't buy a bucket, shooting just 27 percent in the decisive first half. The 'Bows struggled particularly from deep, finishing just 9-of-31 from three-point land.  
 
The Bruins, who led from wire-to-wire,  started the game on a 14-3 run as  Ali drained four three-pointers in the first four minutes alone. UH cut the deficit to five, but UCLA responded with a 15-1 run and never looked back.  
 
There were a few bright spots for UH. UCLA built its lead to as many as 27 in the second half, but the 'Bows wouldn't fold, trimming the deficit to 16. True freshman Owen Hulland had the best game of his young career finishing with a team-high 14 points off the bench.  Jack Purchase and Brocke Steptau each added 10 for the 'Bows, while Samuta Avea provided energy in the second half with eight points and six rebounds.
 
After playing its last four games on the road, UH will now return home to play seven straight home games, beginning with a game versus UH Hilo on Saturday, December 8.