HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team got tested before pulling away late in a 72-60 exhibition win over Chaminade Monday night at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
Mate Colina finished with a game-high 19 points and 12 rebounds, including seven straight points late in the game to lead the Rainbow Warriors pivotal surge . Meanwhile, fellow Aussie Junior Madut added 16 point, with all but four of them coming in the second half.
 
UH got off to a hot start, hitting seven of its first 10 shots and led by as many as 13 points in the first half. The 'Bows ultimately took a 36-28 lead into the locker room after shooting 50 percent from the floor and getting eight first-half points from Noel Coleman.
 
However, the Silverswords would not fold and knotted the score up with 10 minutes left. It was a back-and-forth affair over the next five minutes and after Paris Tayor's bucket with less than six minutes left, Chaminade held a 54-53 lead.
 
But that's when Colina took over. The 7-0 junior center scored the next seven points, highlighted by three-pointer from the top of the key and a three-point play as the 'Bows never trailed again. UH ultimately ended the game on a 19-6 run.
 
Hawai'i won despite struggling to find its shot. The Rainbow Warriors finished just 4-of-21 from three-point land and 12-of-22 from the free throw line.  Still, nine players got in the scoring column for the Rainbow Warriors who saw 10 players in all see action.
 
UH was energized by an arena which had basketball fans—albeit in a limited capacity—for the first time since Feburary 2020.  Capacity restrictions will be lifted in time for the team's regular season and the Rainbow Classic coming up on Nov. 10, 11 and 13. Northern Colorado, Pacific and UH's opening-night opponent UH Hilo are in this year's field.