Honolulu, HI (Sports Network) - Jace Tavita scored 17 points as the Hawaii
Rainbow Warriors rallied for a 70-66 victory over the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
in a Big West Conference duel at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Vander Joaquim had 16 points and was a rebound short of a double-double, Hauns
Brereton added 14 points and Isaac Fotu tacked on 12 points for Hawaii
(17-11, 10-6 Big West) which has won back-to-back games.
Kyle Boswell poured in a game-high 27 points, Alan Williams had 14 points and
was a rebound shy of a double-double and Michael Bryson registered 11 points
for UC Santa Barbara (8-19, 4-11) which has lost four straight.
Hawaii led 30-28 at the break after both teams struggled from the field in the
first half. The Rainbow Warriors shot at a 33.3 percent clip and hit four
shots from 3-point range while UC Santa Barbara was right behind at 32 percent
shooting.
With less than nine minutes left the Gauchos held an eight-point advantage.
However Hawaii went on a 19-6 run to take a 62-57 lead with 1:03 remaining.
The Rainbow Warriors then hit 8-of-8 from the free-throw line in the final
minute to hold on for the win.
Both teams shot better than 50 percent in the second half. Hawaii had a 33-27
edge on the boards.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network