Honolulu-The University of Hawaii men’s basketball team got off to a great start Saturday night with a 72-69 victory over CSU Bakersfield at Simplify Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors improved to his 16-6 overall and his 7-3 in the Big West, his ninth victory in his 10 games here.
UH started the game 11-0 with a 17-point lead in the locker room, denying the Roadrunners a comeback in the second half to bounce back from a tough loss to UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night. With the first half of the Big West’s schedule complete, UH has him in 4th place and 1st place he’s just two games behind Gauchos’ pace.
Kamakahepa He led UH with 17 points, including 12 on four 3-pointers in a decisive first half, and also added seven rebounds. Jobon McClanahan He scored all but six of his 17 points in the first half and had four assists. Noel Coleman 11 points difference.
UH hit the first four shots of the game (three of them from behind the arc) to take a double-digit lead just three minutes into the game. The Roadrunners (6-15, 2-8) took timeouts to stop the bleeding but were unable to recover from UH’s onslaught. Bowes shot 60% of his shots in the first half, made seven of his 3-pointers and wasted all of his throwing attempts in eight frees to give him a 45-28 lead at the break. .
UH held a double-digit lead for the first eight minutes of the second half, but an aggressive lull by ‘Bows brought CSUB back. UH had his 10-for-1 shooting and with just under 7 minutes left on him the Roadrunners were closing in on him 54-50. Bion Riley responded with a three-point play on the next possession, and CSUB never came close to a CSUB three-pointer at the final score buzzer.
After a hot first half, UH shot just 32% after the break to go 11-0 over the arc. CSUB shot 52% of him in the second half. However, Bowes eventually sealed the game at the free-throw line, ending 29-23.
The Rainbow Warriors will start the second half of their Big West schedule on the road with two games, starting with a meeting with UC Davis on Thursday, February 2nd. Tip is 6:00 pm PT/4:00. Afternoon HT.
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