HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team pulled away late for a 74-66 victory over UC Davis in the Big West Conference opener for both teams at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
JoVon McClanahan and Kamaka Hepa made two key three-pointers during a 7-0 run to give the Rainbow Warriors (10-3, 1-0 BWC) a 10-point lead with just over a minute to play. Hawai'i won their fifth straight and won their Big West opener for the eighth time. 
 
Coming off his Most Valuable Player performance in last week's Diamond Head Classic, JoVon McClanahan led the team with a career-high 23 points, all in the second half. Justus Jackson added a career-high 12 points while Bernardo Da Silva recorded his fourth career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds along with five blocked shots.
 
As a team, UH finished with 12 blocked shots, one shy of the single-game school record. The 'Bows shot 49 percent from the field and limited the Aggies to 39.7 percent.
 
UCD (7-6, 0-1), which dropped its third straight, was led by Christian Anigwe's 21 points. Elijah Pepper, who came into the game leading the Big West at 19.7 points per game and finished with 16.
 
Hawai'i weathered a sloppy first half in which the 'Bows committed 13 turnovers. However, UH shot 52.4 percent to keep them in it and took a 25-23 lead into the locker room after Jackson's three-point at the first half buzzer.
 
UCD used a 7-0 run for a 30-28 lead four minutes into the second half. The Aggies built their lead to as many as five at 37-32 but a 7-0 UH run gave the 'Bows the lead back. 
 
With the 'Bows holding a two-point lead with seven minutes left, the Aggies missed a point blank lay-up on one end and a Da Silva dunk gave UH a four-point lead. After a UCD turnover, Da Silva made two free throws and a McClanahan jumper capped an 8-0 run and put the 'Bows on top 54-46.
 
Pepper tried to keep the Aggies close with six straight points to close the deficit to three before McClanahan's third trey. After a UCD turnover, Hepa's corner three made it 63-54 with 1:45 remaining. 
 
The Rainbow Warriors wrap up their conference-opening homestand Saturday when they host Cal Poly at 5 p.m. in SimpliFi Arena.
 

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