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Noel Coleman dribble
Shane Rodrigues
76
Winner Hawaii Hawaii 12-10,4-6 Big West
68
Cal St. Fullerton CSF 11-11,4-6 Big West
Winner
Hawaii Hawaii
12-10,4-6 Big West
76
Final
68
Cal St. Fullerton CSF
11-11,4-6 Big West
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Hawaii Hawaii 36 40 76
Cal St. Fullerton CSF 24 44 68

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Dominant First Half Lifts Men’s Basketball Over Cal State Fullerton

FULLERTON, Calif.  —  The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team got off to a strong start and built a lead it wouldn't relinquish in a crucial 76-68 win over Cal State Fullerton Thursday night at Titan Gym. With the win UH moved into a tie for sixth in Big West standings while winning back-to-back league games for the first time this season. 

The Rainbow Warriors can credit the win to a first-half performance that saw them build a 20-point lead with stellar play on both ends of the court. The win snapped a five-game series slide against Fullerton (11-11, 4-6 Big West) and leveled the 'Bows with the Titans in the league standings. 

Noel Coleman lead four Rainbow Warriors with 21 points for his second straight 20-point game. JoVon McClanahan poured in 11 points off the bench, as did Ryan Rapp who had his best scoring outing in 21 games as a Rainbow Warrior. Juan Munoz scored all 10 of his points in first half when UH surged ahead. 

UH spotted the Titans the first basket of the game but then proceeded to score 16 of the next 18 points to take a double-digit lead. The 'Bows built its lead to as many as 20 points, 31-11, following a Munoz three-pointer at the 4:29 mark. Fullerton made a move, scoring 11 unanswered points, but UH would still lead by a dozen at the break, 36-24. 

UH held the Titans to just 32 percent shooting, including 2-of-11 on three-pointers in the first half. The 'Bows also out-rebounded Fullerton, 25-10, including 7-1 on offensive boards which UH parlayed into nine points. 

The Rainbow Warriors would continue to lead by double-digits for the majority of the second half, turning back every Fullerton rally. The Titans would get as close as seven, 66-59, on a Dominic Brewton three-pointer with 3:44 left. But on the very next possession, the Titans picked up both a personal foul and technical foul on the defensive end. UH proceeded to sink four straight free throws to push the lead back to double-digits and never looked back.  

For the game, UH drained 22-of-29 free throws. The 'Bow dominated the glass with 38-21 advantage and ended up out-scoring Fullerton 15-0 on second-chance points.

The Rainbow Warriors will play the second leg of its road schedule when it faces league-leading  UC Irvine on Saturday, Feb. 3. Tipoff is 7 p.m. PT/5 p.m. HT at the Bren Events Center.  

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