HONOLULU  —  In another down-to-wire finish, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team fended off CSUN, 72-70, Wednesday night at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. It was a crucial win for the Rainbow Warriors (18-13, 10-9 Big West) who clinched a spot in next week's Big West Championship, while also moving a step closer to a potential first-round bye. 
 
Bernardo da Silva led the Rainbow Warriors with his seventh double-double this season. He led four UH players in double figures with 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Justin McKoy and Noel Coleman each finished with 14 points and Juan Munoz added 13 points while hitting three three-pointers. 
 
The combined effort was just enough to offset a career night for CSUN's  De'Sean Allen-Eikens, who poured in 34 points on 14-for-23 shooting from the field.
 
Sporting their one-night only "Island Heritage" uniforms, the Rainbow Warriors stretched a one-point halftime lead into a 13-point cushion with 8:55 left in the second half. But CSUN hit 10 of 12 shots in a late run to close to within a point at 68-67 with 32 seconds remaining. UH kept the lead at the free-throw line and held off the Matadors' final possession to earn a split of the regular-season series with CSUN (18-14, 9-11).
 
The first half was a slugfest. CSUN missed eight of its first nine shots and UH laid stake to an early 15-10 lead. The Matadors went on an 8-0 run to take its first lead of the game, but the 'Bows responded with nine unanswered points of their own and eventually took a 26-25 lead into the locker room. CSUN shot just 34 percent for the half, while UH shot 32 percent and turned the ball over 13 times.  
 
CSUN held a 33-31 lead at the 16:22 mark when UH made its decisive move. The 'Bows scored eight unanswered points, including  five straight by McKoy to fuel a run in which the UH scored 15 of the game's next 17 points. UH took a 46-35 lead and continued to maintain a double-digit  margin for most of the next five minutes.
 
UH led 62-49 with 5:23 left, but the 'Bows went cold and CSUN hit its next six shots. A 16-5 run, capped by Allen-Eiken's layup cut the deficit to just 67-65 with 1:19 left. A Munoz free throw put UH up, 68-65, with 52 seconds left but Jasman Sangha hit a hook shot to make it 68-67 with 32.9 seconds. Munoz made one of two free throws to make it a two-point game once again and Gianni Hunt missed a jumper with 22 seconds left.

Coleman drained two more free throws to give UH a 71-67 lead, but Allen-Eikens extended the drama with a three-pointer with 12 seconds remaining. Da Silva was fouled on the inbounds play and made one of two free throws. CSUN's Dionte Bostick then drove into the lane only to have da Silva knock the ball out of his grasp and out of bounds, giving UH possession with three seconds left. McKoy chased down a length-of-the-court pass to run out the clock and UH earned its fifth straight home win.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will close out the regular season with a Senior Night Whiteout game versus CSU Bakersfield on Saturday, March 9 at 7 p.m. Seniors Noel Coleman, Matthue Cotton, Bernardo da Silva, JoVon McClanahan, Justin McKoy and Juan Munoz will be honored as part of the post-game festivities.