HONOLULU— The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team opens its 2024-25 campaign with the 58th Annual OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic Nov. 8, 10, 11 at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Pacific, San Jose State, and the Rainbow Warriors' opening-night opponent Life Pacific, join Hawai'i in this year's tournament field. 

The OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic is one of the longest-running collegiate tournaments in the country. UH has won the tournament on 15 occasions and will be seeking its first title since 2017.
  

57th Annual OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic
Opponent | Date | Time				Life Pacific |  Friday, Nov. 8  | 7 p.m. HT  San Jose State |  Sunday, Nov. 10  | 5 p.m. HT  Pacific |  Monday Nov. 11  |  7 p.m. HT
Location				Honolulu, O'ahu  - SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
Television				Spectrum Sports - Ch. 12 [SD] and 1012 [HD]
Live Stream				ESPN+ (Blacked out in Hawai'i)
Radio				ESPN Honolulu / Sideline Hawaii App
Live Stats				StatBroadcast.com
Game Notes				Hawai'i
Social Media				@HawaiiMBB  | #HawaiiMBB | @HawaiiBasketball  | Facebook
Tickets				ETicketHawaii.com

 
PROMOTIONSFriday, Nov. 8: We're Hawai'i. We celebrate being united as one state and our uniqueness as a fan base. The night will feature 200 students receiving Hawai'i Ti leaf towels, and our Bowhana marketing team will throw several "We're Hawai'i" shirts after each made three-pointer by the Rainbow Warriors. At halftime of the UH game, a lucky fan will win a one-night stay at the OUTRIGGER Waikiki Paradise Hotel, while the runner-up will take home a $50 gift card to Tanaka of Tokyo. 

Sunday, Nov. 10: Military Appreciation Day. We will celebrate all military branches with special guests and salute all veterans with a 50% ticket discount for the game in honor of Veterans Day. At halftime of the UH game, a lucky fan will have a chance to win a one-night stay at the OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, while the runner-up will take home a $50 gift card to Appetito. 

Monday, Nov. 11: All fans are encouraged to wear their favorite piece of UH gear, and the color green is  encouraged to cheer on the 'Bows. At halftime of the UH game, a lucky fan will win a two-night stay at the OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa, while the runner-up will take home a $50 gift card to Tanaka of Tokyo. 

HEAD COACH ERAN GANOTOverall record: 159-104 (11th season)
At Hawai'i: 156-102 (10th season)

ALL-TIME RECORDS vs. TOURNAMENT FIELDvs. Life Pacific: 0-0
vs. San Jose State: 27-12
vs. Pacific: 6-5

OPENING TIP

• UH seeks its 16th Rainbow Classic title and third under 10th-year head coach Eran Ganot.
• UH has won 14 of its last 15 season openers and have done it convincingly with all 14 wins coming by double-digits.
• The Rainbow Warriors played both of its preseason exhibition games on the neighbor islands. The 'Bows clippied UH Hilo, 64-61, on the Big Island on Oct. 25, before holding off Chaminade, 85-80, in an exhibtion on Maui on Nov. 2.
• A veteran core group of players who helped UH to back-to-back 20 wins seasons is gone as the Rainbow Warriors lose its top six scorers from last year.
• Senior guard Ryan Rapp (18 starts, 3.9 ppg and 2.1 rpg) is the lone returning starter and one of five letterwinners returning. UH will also rely on the emergence of a pair of second-year players in guard Tom Beattie and forward Akira Jacobs who each made contributions as true freshmen.
• Jacobs led UH with 20 points in the team's win over Chaminade, while Beattie averaged 12.5 points and 3.5 assists in the two preseason wins.
• UH welcomes eight newcomers this year - four Division I transfers, three international imports, and one prep player. The Division I transfers include Marcus Greene (Houston Christian), Tanner Christensen (Utah Tech), Gytis Nemeikša (Xavier) and Jerome Palm (Valparaiso).
• Christensen tallied the game-winning three-point play in UH's exhibition win over UH Hilo, while Nemeikša led the 'Bows with 13 points in that win.
• Once again, UH fields one of the most geographically diverse squads in the NCAA. UH boasts players from eight different countries. Only two other schools - UT Martin (11) and Oregon State (9) - have more countries represented on their roster.
• UH was selected seventh in the preseason Big West poll. Entering its 13th season in the Big West, UH has yet to record a losing record in conference play. 
• Following the Rainbow Classic, UH will play host to Weber State on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m.

ABOUT THE FIELD

• Life Pacific opened the year with an 87-71 win over Bethesda on Halloween, before falling to LMU, 99-56 on Monday.
• Despite competing on the NAIA level, Life Pacific has six NCAA D1 opponents on the schedule - this weekend's docket plus Grand Canyon and Pepperdine.
• San Jose State dropped its home opener, 59-55, to Western Illinois on Monday.
• The Spartans, who were 9-23 last year, were picked 8th in the Mountain West preseason poll.
• Pacific started the year with a 92-65 win over Jessup on Monday.
• The Tigers are under the new direction of first-year head coach Dave Smart.