HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team put together an inspired comeback before eventually falling to UC Santa Barbara in overtime, 81-74, Saturday night at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 7-7 overall and 5-7 in the Big West.
 
UH erased a 15-point second-half deficit and took the lead in the final minute of regulation. But the Gauchos ultimately out-dueled UH in the extra period to beat the 'Bows for the second straight night. UCSB (14-3, 8-2 Big West) kept hold of first place in the league standings with their 10th straight win.
 
 Casdon Jardine scored a game-high 25 points and added six rebounds to lead the Rainbow Warriors. James Jean-Marie added 17 points – including two key three-pointers in the second half. Biwali Bayles also helped lead the second-half charge and finished with  10 points, five assists and five rebounds. Jaquouri McLaughlin scored 19 points and Deveral Ramsey had 17 points to lead the way for the Gauchos.
 
For the second straight evening,  a key first-half stretch doomed the Rainbow Warriors. UH was riding momentum and led 24-23 with seven minutes left until intermission. But the Gauchos exploded for 13 unanswered points to take a double-digit lead in the locker room.
 
UCSB extended their lead to as many as 15 points, 46-31, early in the second half. UH, however, wouldn't fold and clawed their way back. The Bows shot 53 percent in the second half and Jardine's driving layup with 1:01 left momentarily gave UH a 62-60 lead. However, UCSB scored on the ensuing possession and neither team could close out the game in regulation.
 
The Gauchos siezed control back in ovetime when they scored the first five points of the extra frame and never looked back. UCSB hit all three of its shots in overtime and sealed the game on the line by sinking all 12 of their free throws – eight of them coming from Ramsey who finished a perfect 10-of-10 from the line on the evening.
   
The Gauchos went 20-of-23 from the line for the game while UH went 20-of-29. UCSB also out-scored UH in the paint, 46-24.
 
The Rainbow Warriors next head to the road for a pair of games at CSUN on Friday, Feb. 19 and Saturday, Feb. 20. Both games tip at 4:00 p.m. PT/2:00 p.m. HT at The Matadome.