HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i basketball team battled hard for 45 minutes but fell short in a 62-59 loss to Yale in the OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic championship Monday night at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
Tournament MVP Matt Knowling scored 18 points for the Bulldogs to lead four players in double figures. The Bulldogs captured the tournament crown after going 3-0 over the weekend and handed the Rainbow Warriors (2-1) their first loss of the season in a slugfest of a game.
 
JoVon McClanahan, who made some key plays down the stretch in regulation, led UH with 15 points with all of the them coming after halftime. Noel Coleman added 13 points and six rebounds and Bernardo da Silva was just shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. Both Coleman and da Silva were named to the all-tournament team.
 
UH dominated the glass, 53-33, and held the Bulldogs to just 38 percent shooting. But the 'Bows were ultimately undone by their own offensive struggles as they shot just 33 percent and committed 17 turnovers.
 
It was a tight game throughout as neither team led by more than six in the game. Yale clung to a 17-16 lead at the break as both teams were ice-cold from the floor, shooting less than 30 percent.
 
The second half continued to be a back-and-forth affair. McClanahan hit a three-pointer to put UH up by two, 49-47, with less than two minutes remaining. Yale answered with a bucket of their own and after the team exchanged free throws on the ensuing possessions, UH had one last shot to win it in regulation. But Coleman's layup was blocked by EJ Jarvis and the game went in overtime.
 
In overtime, Yale seemed to take control with a five-point lead right off the bat. But UH battled back and a Kamaka Hepa three-pointer with 26 seconds left got UH within one. After Yale hit a pair of free throws to go up by three, UH had one final possession to tie it up. The 'Bows had multiple chances on that final possession, but Coleman missed from deep and Samuta Avea's jumper also fell short as time expired.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will next spend their next two weekends in Lā'ie. UH will face Hawai'i Pacific in a neutral site game at the Cannon Activities Center on the campus of BYU-Hawai'i on Saturday, Nov. 19 at noon. UH will then play in the Patty Mills North Shore Classic at the same venue the very next weekend on Nov. 25 and 26.

All-Tournament Team
Terry Collins, Mississippi Valley State
Angelo Allegri, Eastern Washington
Bernardo da Silva, Hawai'i
Noel Coleman, Hawai'i
Isaiah Kelly, Yale
Most Outstanding Player: Matt Knowling