HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team used a key second-half run and a balanced offensive attack to turn back upset-minded Hawai'i Pacific, 88-76, Monday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Less than a week after seeing its four-game win streak snapped against Arizona State, the Rainbow Warriors (5-2) bounced back with a win over the Division II Sharks in a tense game from start to finish. UH started strong but needed to fend off HPU with a 13-0 run in the second half.
Seven UH players scored in double-digits led by
Isaac Johnson who finished with 16 points. The senior also tied a school record on the evening. By going 10-of-10 from the free-throw line Johnson extended his string of consecutive free throws made to 34 straight, matching the mark set by Brocke Stepteau in the 2018-19 season.
Harry Rouhliadeff, who returned to action after missing the last two contests, finished with 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Gytis Nemeikša,
Hunter Erickson and
Yacine Toumi each finished with 12 points and
Dre Bullock and
Aaron Hunkin-Claytor both contributed 11 points.
UH jumped all over the Sharks early. The 'Bows took a double-digit lead just three minutes into the game and scored the first dozen points of the game. HPU missed its first seven shots and wouldn't get on the board until the 14:34 mark on a Joshua West layup.
Rouhliadeff extended UH's lead to 15-2 on a three-pointer just a minute later. HPU, however, wouldn't fold. The Sharks chipped away at UH's lead and trailed by just five, 38-33, at the break, despite shooting just 33 percent from the floor. HPU though held an 11-4 advantage of points off turnovers with the Sharks committing just two turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
HPU came out of the locker room with some momentum scoring the first four points and when Josh Niusulu hit his second three-pointer of the early minutes of the half, the Sharks took their first lead of the game, 42-41, at the 17:29 mark.
UH re-took the lead 43-42 on a Nemeiksa layup less than a minute later and it was nip-and-tuck from three.
A critical juncture happened with less than 13 minutes left and UH clinging to a 51-50 lead. West drove in for a potential go-ahead dunk, but Johnson blocked the attempt. HPU was issued a technical after the play and Johnson sank two free throws to ignite a 13-0 UH run that turned a one-point game into a 64-50 lead with less than 10 minutes left.
UH finished 32-of-39 from the free throw line and dominated the boards, 46-28. The 'Bows also did a better job taking care of the ball, committing just four turnovers after the break.
The Rainbow Warriors return to the court on Friday, Nov. 28 when they take on North Dakota. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Bankoh Arena.
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