HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team held off Utah Tech 68-62 to capture its second straight OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic championship on Saturday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. It was the 17th overall title for the Rainbow Warriors who improved to 4-1 on the season with their third straight victory.
UH led from start to finish, but it wasn't easy. After leading by as many 10 points in the second half, the 'Bows had to hold off a scrappy Utah Tech squad that cut the deficit to just one and multiple occasions late in the game.
Ultimately, UH won the game on the shoulders of grad transfers
Dre Bullock and
Isaac Johnson.
Bullock scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half, while Johnson recorded his third double-double in the last four games with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Bullock earned a spot on the all-tournament team, while Johnson was tabbed the Classic's Most Outstanding Player.
Gytis Nemeiksa earned his first start of the season in place of a sidelined
Harry Rouhliadeff and responded with a season-high 12 points and seven rebounds.
UH shot just 1-of-14 from three-point territory and committed a season-high 19 turnovers, But the 'Bows out-rebounded Utah Tech, 39-24, and drained 21 of 25 free throws, including 8-of-8 by Bullock.
Once again, UH came out of the gates strong. The 'Bows scored the first seven points of the game and built a double-digit lead before taking a 30-21 advantage into the locker room. UH shot 52 percent in the first half, while holding the Trailblazers to just 33 percent.
UH opened up a 10-point lead on a Bullock dunk at the 13:07 mark, but Utah Tech chipped away and closed to within a point at 46-45 with 7:15 left. After Bullock completed a three-point play, Chance Trujillo answered from long range to bring the Trailblazers within two at 51-49. But Johnson scored the next six points, including a tip-in that put UH up 57-49 with 4:15 left.
The Trailblazers stormed back again to close to 57-56 on another Trujillo three-pointer with 2:12 left. Nemeiksa responded with a bucket in the paint and Bullock soared for a tip-in off the glass while drawing a foul and his free-throw pushed the margin back to six.
The 'Bows' lead fluctuated between four and six points the rest of the way with Bullock going 6 for 6 from the free-throw line to seal the win in the first-ever meeting between the teams.
Ethan Potter led Utah Tech (3-3) with 15 points and Jusaun Holt finished with 14 for the Trailblazers.
In the first game of the day Manhattan out-lasted Mississippi Valley State, 80-73.
The Rainbow Warriors will be back in action on Thursday, Nov. 20 when they take on Big 12 opponent Arizona State. Tipoff is 7:00 p.m. at Bankoh Arena.
All-Tournament Team
Daniel Mayfield, Mississippi Valley State
Fraser Roxburgh, Manhattan
Ethan Potter, Utah Tech
Chance Trujillo, Utah Tech
Dre Bullock, Hawai'i
Most Outstanding Player:
Isaac Johnson, Hawai'i
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