HONOULU – In a game of massive momentum swings, UNLV had the last word in a 73-59 win over Hawai'i in the opening round of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
With the loss, UH was relegated to the consolation bracket of the tournament for the third straight year. The Rainbow Warriors (6-5) will face Colorado (8-2) at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. UNLV (6-4), meanwhile, will meet Indiana State (7-3) in the tournament semifinals at 11:30 a.m.
 
The 'Bows led by two at the break, but the Rebels went on a game-changing 23-3 run in the second half to put the game away. UH shot a season-low 33 percent for the game and fell prey to one of the top rebounding teams in the nation as the Rebels finished with a 44-29 advantage on the boards.
 
Drew Buggs led UH with 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Mate Colina finished with a season-high 13 points, while Eddie Stansberry chipped in 12 points.  Kris Clyburn and Joel Ntambwe each had 17 points for UNLV.
 
The Rebels used a 16-2 run in the first half to take a 13-point lead. UH responded by out-scoring UNLV, 18-3, the rest of the half, including a string of 11 straight points. That gave UH a 28-26 lead at the break.
 
The 'Bows maintained a 35-33 led five minutes into the second, but that's when the game turned. The Rebels scored 14 unanswered points to ignite a 23-3 run that put them up by 18 points. UH wouldn't quit and cut the lead in half in the waning minutes, but the deficit proved too big to overcome.