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Akira Jacobs drive
Jack Gilday
72
Hawaii Hawaii 5-2,0-0 Big West
78
Winner Grand Canyon GCU 5-2,0-0 WAC
Hawaii Hawaii
5-2,0-0 Big West
72
Final
78
Grand Canyon GCU
5-2,0-0 WAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Hawaii Hawaii 27 45 72
Grand Canyon GCU 43 35 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Men’s Basketball Rally Falls Just Short At Grand Canyon

PHOENIX, Ariz. – In its first road game of the season, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team put together a massive second half rally, before falling 78-72 to Grand Canyon Tuesday night at the Global Credit Union Arena. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 5-2 on the year with their second loss in the last three games. 

In a tale of two halves, UH nearly erased an 18-point second-half deficit, pulling within one point in the waning minutes of the game. But the Antelopes scored on back-to-back possession and sealed the game at the free throw line to thwart UH's comeback bid in the first-ever meeting between the programs. 

Gytis Nemeikša poured in a career-high 24 points and Marcus Greene added 17 to fuel UH's frenetic rally. The duo combined for 30 points in the second half and contributed 41 of the team's whopping 49 points off the bench. 

Tyon Grant-Foster led four GCU players in double-figures with 23 points and drilled 11-of-15 from the foul line to help the Lopes pick up their third straight win. 

After opening the season with six straight home games, UH got off to a slow start in its first road game of the year.  The 'Bows were undone by a first half that saw them shoot 32 percent from the floor, convert 9-of-16 from the foul line and commit 13 turnovers. GCU parlayed 13 of those turnovers into 16 points, taking a 43-27 lead into the locker room.

The Lopes built its lead to as many as 18 points four minutes into the second half. But the 'Bows suddenly got hot. At one point UH converted 10 straight field goals and a Nemeiksa three-pointer pulled the 'Bows with one, 58-57, with 7:20 left. 

It was nip-and-tuck from there as UH got within one point again, 67-66, on a Ryan Rapp layup with 2:29 left. But UH couldn't get over the hump. GCU got buckets on back-to-back possessions, while UH failed to convert on their next two chances, giving the Lopes a five-point edge with a minute left.  GCU scored their final six points from the free throw line where they finished 24-of-32 for the game.  

UH shot a sizzling 58 percent from the floor after the break, while holding the Lopes to just 33 percent shooting in the second half. UH also out-rebounded the Lopes 35-25. But despite turning the ball over just seven times in the second frame, UH still finished with a season-high 20 turnovers. 

The Rainbow Warriors will remain on the road for its Big West opener against Long Beach State on Saturday, Dec. 7. Tipoff is 11 a.m. HT/1 p.m. PT.

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