HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team opened a seven-game homestand with an 82-75 win over Hawaii Hilo Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. With the win, the Rainbow Warriors improved to 5-4 overall and snapped a three-game skid.
 
UH led for the final 34 minutes of the game,  but the victory didn't come easy. A game Vulcan squad trailed by just six at half and came within two points on a pair of occasions in the second half. The Rainbow Warrior, however, gained separation midway through the second half and held on to remain undefeated in 11 all-time regular-season meetings with its sister school.
 
The Rainbow Warriors again sported a balanced attack with five players scoring in double-figures, the fourth time in nine games this season that's happened. Eddies Stansberry led the way with 19 points – tying a season high – including five three-pointers.
 
Drew Buggs added a season-high 16 points and seven assists, while Zigmars Raimo scored all 13 points of his points in the first half.  Jack Purchase (10 points, 9 rebounds) was one rebound short of a double-double, while Brocke Stepteau contributed 11 second-half points to hold the Vulcans at bay.
 
UH Hilo kept things close throughout behind the trio of Kupaaa Harrison (21 points), Larry Bush (20) and Jalen Thompson (16).
 
Both teams found success on the offensive end with UH shooting 54 percent, including 59 percent in the second half. The Vulcans were even hotter in the second half, shooting 64 percent after the break to finish 53 percent for the game.

UH led by as many as 10 points in the first half but the Vulcans cut the deficit to 37-31 at the break and came knocking on the door on a pair of occasions in the second half.  A Harrison three-pointer made it 52-50 with a little more than 13 minutes left.
 
The 'Bows respond with eight straight points in a 60-second span to build a double-digit lead and led by as many as 13 points.  Buggs and Stepteau made sure UHH would not come back with clutch three-point plays in the waning minutes when the Vulcans twice cut the UH lead to six.
 
UH returns to action next week when it hosts Mississippi Valley State on Sunday, Dec. 16. Tipoff is 5:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.