HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team took Big West leader UC Irvine down to the wire but eventually fell short in a 53-51 setback Friday night at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 4-5 overall and 2-5 in the Big West with their fifth loss in their last six contests.
 
The 'Bows went toe-to-toe with the Anteaters (9-4, 5-0 Big West) and had a chance to win in the closing moments. However, Justin Webster's long-range three-pointer fell off the mark as UH lost to UCI for the seventh straight time. It was also the Anteaters fifth straight win in Honolulu.
 
Casdon Jardine led UH with 14 points and five rebounds – all of them coming in the second half. Jardine went 6-of-8 from the field and hit a pair of timely three-pointers to keep UH in the game. James Jean-Marie added 12 points off the bench, while JoVon McClanahan had a team-high five assists in his first career start.
 
Brad Green finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks to help UCI remain unblemished in the Big West and extend its win streak to seven games. The Anteaters are now 20-2 in their last 22 conference road games.
 
The game was a defensive slugfest throughout. UH shot just 30 percent in the first half but held their own on the boards to trail just 25-22 at the break. The 'Bows started out strong out of the locker room and actually led by three points on a pair of occasions. However, the Anteaters used an 8-0 run to take a five-point lead midway through the second half.

UH got within one point twice in the waning minutes and had one last chance at the end. UC Irvine led 53-51 with five seconds left but missed the front end of a one-and-one. UH got the rebound and pushed the ball up court before Webster's straightaway three-pointer from well-beyond the arc went astray. The loss was UH's third straight at home this year and fourth straight Big West home loss dating back to last season. 
 
The teams will lock horns again on Saturday to wrap up the two-game series. Tipoff is 7:00 p.m. at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Cneter