HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team used a stellar defensive effort to defeat Cal State Fullerton 69-59 on Saturday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
With their fourth straight victory, the Rainbow Warriors moved to 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big West in completing a sweep of the conference's "Bold Week."
Fullerton entered the game as the league's top-scoring offense at 88.4 points per game. But UH stifled the Titans all evening, particularly in the first half, and Cal State Fullerton finished nearly 30 points below its average while shooting just 34 percent from the floor.
UH had some offensive struggles of its own, shooting just 33 percent in the second half. But the 'Bows drained eight of their 10 three-pointers in the first half to beat the Titans for the fourth straight time.
Four Rainbow Warriors finished in double digits led by
Harry Rouhliadeff and Gytis Nemeiksa with 12 points each. Nemeiska added 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Isaac Fiinlison pitched in 11 points off the bench on 5-of-5 shooting, while Aaron-Hunkin Claytor had 10 points.
Landon Seaman led Fullerton with 17 points.
The Titans scored 19 seconds into the game but would go without a field goal for the next five minutes in a harbinger of things to come. UH had early difficulties converting as well but used an 11-1 run, capped by back-to-back three pointers by Finlinson and
Isaac Johnson, to build a double-digit lead. UH eventually led 39-25 at the break off a defense that held the Titans to just 27 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes, including 1-of-10 on three-pointers. UH, meanwhile shot 8-of-21 from three point-range in the first half.
UH extended its lead to 15, 42-27, on a Hunkin-Claytor three-pointer in the opening minute of the second half. But Fullerton wouldn't fold. A Seaman three-pointer cut the deficit to just five, 51-46, with 11:21 left.
But UH got a driving layup by Finlinson and offensive putback by Nemeiska as part of a 9-1 run that gave UH a 60-47 lead and the 'Bows would hold a double-digit margin for the final seven minutes.
UH out-rebounded CSF, 50-37, and built a 12-4 advantage in second-chance points. The 'Bows registered a season-high seven blocks and held Fullerton to just 19 points off the bench, less than half its normal output entering the game.
The Rainbow Warriors will move back into non-conference play when they have a pair of home games next week, beginning with an interisland matchup versus Hawai'i-Hilo on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Bankoh Arena.
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