HONOLULU — In an emotionally-charged game, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team held off UC San Diego for a big 72-67 win Saturday night at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Coupled with UC Irvine's loss earlier in the evening, the victory catapulted the Rainbow Warriors back into a tie for first in the Big West standings.
The 'Bows (17-5, 9-3) got off to a rapid start, recovered after losing their lead in the second half, then held off a late Triton rally to win their 10th straight home game. In turn, UH avenged its 10-point loss in La Jolla last month and ended a four-game series skid against UCSD (16-9, 6-7).
A pair of Isaacs led the way for the 'Bows.
Isaac Johnson scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half, while
Isaac Finlinson poured in 12 of his 15 points in the second half.
Hunter Erickson added nine points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Dre Bullock finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
UH bolted out of the gates with an 11-point surge forcing a UCSD timeout less than three minutes into the game. Johnson scored nine of those points, starting with a three-pointer on UH's first possession and a bevy of aggressive buckets in the paint that set the tone.
However, UCSD slowly clawed its way back. UH hit five of its first six shots but shot just 33 percent the rest of the half, including 2-of-13 from behind the arc. The 'Bows took a 34-32 edge to the locker room thanks to Johnson who had 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting.
UCSD came out hot to start the second half, hitting seven of its first 11 shots. The Tritons took their first lead of the game, 37-36, on a
Tom Beattie three-pointer a little more than a minute into the half and extended the lead to five, 45-40 with 13:34 left.
But UH went on 13-5 run, seizing the lead back on a FInlinson three-pointer with 10 minutes left. The 'Bows would not trail again but the win would not come easy. An Erickson three-pointer with 3:20 left put UH up by double-digits, 62-52, and UH led 64-55 with less than two minutes left on a pair of Bullock free throws.
But UCSD would not go away. Leo Beath's three-pointer cut the deficit to 69-67 with 14 seconds left. After Erickson made one of two free throws the Tritons had an opportunity to tie the game but Burke's leaning three-pointer from the corner with five seconds left was off the mark and the 'Bows closed out the win.
UH dominated UCSD on the boards, 47-26. Beattie led four UCSD players in double figures with 14 points.
The Rainbow Warriors now head back to the road for a pair of games, beginning with a contest at CSU Bakersfield. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m HT at the Icardo Center.
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