HONOLULU – The University of Hawaii men's basketball team got a complete team effort in a 70-63 win over UC Santa Barbara Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH improved to 12-6 overall and 3-1 in the Big West.
 
UH got contributions from all nine players who saw action to defeat one of the confernece's preseason favorites in the Gauchos (12-6, 1-2 BW). Four players scored in double figures for UH, highlighted by Drew Buggs who posted his third career double-double. The junior point guard finished with 12 points and tied his career-high with 12 assists.  
 
After trailing by two at the half, UH out-scored the Gauchos 37-28 after the break. UH held UCSB, the top shooting team in the Big West, to just 36 percent shooting in the second half. The Guachos shot just 2-of-15 from beyond the arc. The 'Bows also crushed UCSB on the glass, finishing with a 33-23, advantage.
 
It was back-and-forth first half with six ties and six lead changes. UH led by as many as eight points before the Gauchos, who shot 55 percent in the first frame, took a 35-33 lead at the break. But he 'Bows came storming out in the second half. UH went on an 11-2 run to take the lead, a lead they would maintain for the rest of the way.
 
The 'Bows got 29 points from its bench including 11 points from Justin Webster and a career-high 10 points from Justin Hemsley. UH also got a lift from Owen Hulland in the first half. The sophomore post player, who missed the first 17 games due to injury, hit back-to-back three-pointers, as UH got more than half of its first-half points from the bench.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will next host UC Davis on Saturday, Jan. 25, an evening that will also commemorate the 100th season of UH basketball. The top moments in program history will be recounted, while dozens of former players, coaches and staff members will recognized. Tipoff for the game is at 7:00 p.m.