HONOLULU
— The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team heads to the mainland for the first time this year when it travels to Palm Springs, Calif., for the Acrisure Invitational, Nov. 24-25, at Acrisure Arena. The Rainbow Warriors will open the two-day tournament against UT Rio Grande Valley on Friday, Nov. 24 at 3:00 p.m. HT. UH will then face either Arkansas State or San Diego on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. HT.
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HEAD COACH ERAN GANOTOverall record: 142-90 (10th season)
At Hawai'i: 139-88 (9th season)
ALL-TIME RECORD VERSUS UT RIO GRANDE VALLEYOverall: UTRGV leads, 4-3
In Honolulu: Tied, 3-3
In Edinberg: UTRGV, 1-0
Streak: UH, 3-0
GAME STORY LINES
- This will be the eight time that UH and UTRV will meet and the first time since 2000 when UTRV was known as UT Pan American.
- A Rainbow Warrior win would put them in the title game of the Acrisure Invitational. It would also give UH a 4-0 start for the second time under head coach Eran Ganot and the first time since the 2015-16 season.
- UH is aiming to win its third straight preseason tournament. Last year the 'Bows claimed both the Patty Mills North Shore Classic and the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
- UH is coming off a 70-61 home win on Tuesday over Northern Arizona to improve to 3-0.
- Four different players are averaging double-digits for UH, led by Noel Coleman's 13.0 ppg. North Carolina transfer Justin McKoy is contributing 12.7 ppg and 8.0 rpg while shooting 54%.
- UTRV's two wins this year have come against NAIA squad North American and Division II Southwestern Adventist.
- Junior guard Elijah Elliott leads the team at 18.8 ppg, including a 30-point game at South Dakota.
- Following the Acrisure Invitational, the 'Bows will remain on the road to face Utah on Nov. 30 at the Delta Center, home of the Utah Jazz.
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