by HONOLULU – The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team gained a hard-earned victory with a 79-70 win over Long Beach State Saturday night at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors improved to 13-4 overall and 4-1 in the Big West with their eighth win in their last nine contests.
Noel Coleman scored 19 of his season-high 25 points in the second half, including seven key points in the final minutes of the game to hold off the Beach (8-10, 1-4) and secure UH’s seventh straight home win.
Coleman went a perfect 11-of11 from the line and UH finished 22-of-27 as a team to help buoy the ‘Bows particularly when UH struggled offensively in the first half.
UH also got 17 points from Samuta Avea, 15 from JoVon McClanahan and a double-double from Kamaka Hepa with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Hepa and Bernardo da Silva (nine points, 12 rebounds) spearhead UH’s effortoin the boards as the ‘Bows out-paced the top rebounding team in the conference, 48-39.
UH started the game 3-of-24 from the field and went more than eight minutes without a field goal (13 straight misses). But the ‘Bows stayed in the game with their signature defense, holding the Beach to 38 percent shooting and out-rebounding them by eight at the half. UH also converted all eight of their free throws and hit seven of its final 13 field goal attempts to end the half to eventually take a 30-27 advantage at the break.
The game continued to be a close battle throughout the second half. UH trailed 53-52 with just under eight minutes but went on a 9-2 run to seize the lead. The ‘Bows would not trail again thanks in part to Coleman who help turn back the Beach late. After LBSU cut it to 69-68, Coleman responded with five straight points, highlights by a zone-busting three-pointer with 1:26 left that proved to be the dagger.
UH shot just 27 percent in the first half but true to form bounced back in the second half, shooting 56 percent.
