IRVINE, Calif.  – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team fell short of completing a road sweep to start Big West play after a 74-60 setback to UC Irvine Saturday night at the Bren Events Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 10-6 and 1-1 in the Big West.
 
Two night after a conference-opening win at Cal State Fullerton, the 'Bows faced a much stiffer test against the defending league champs Anteaters (9-8, 1-0 Big West). UCI came out strong then used a momentum-turning run in the final six minutes of the first half to take a double-digit halftime lead it would not relinquish. UCI beat UH for the fifth straight time and seventh time in the last eight meetings.   
 
Samuta Avea led UH with 14 points, while Eddie Stansberry added 11 points. Colin Welp led four UCI players in double-figures with 18 points. Brad Greene had 13 points and 21 rebounds for the Anteaters who held a 49-34 advantage on the boards.
 
The first-half was a roller coaster. UH fell into an 11-0 hole less than four minutes into the game against a UCI squad that came out energized in its league opener. But powered by nine points from freshman Justin Webster, UH not only got back in the game but took the lead. An Avea three-pointer capped a 13-2 run that gave UH a 22-21 lead with 6:10 left in the half.
 
However, UCI responded in a big way, closing the half with a 18-3 run to take a 39-25 advantage into the locker room.  UH battled in the second half but UCI responded to every UH rally. The 'Bows cut the deficit to four points, 50-46, on a Drew Buggs layup with 10:03 left. But the Anteater scored seven straight to get its lead back to double-digits and UH would get no closer.
 
UH turned the ball over just eight times and held UCI to 33 percent shooting in the second half. But UH was held to just 35 percent shooting for the game - its second-worst shooting performance of the year - while the Anteaters out-scored the 'Bows 32-14 in the paint. The loss ended a string of three consecutive conference road wins by UH, dating back to last season.
 
UH now returns to Honolulu for four straight Big West home games, beginning with a meeting versus Cal Poly on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 8:00 p.m.. The game will be part of a double-header with the women who tipoff at 5:30 p.m.