Idaho built a double-digit lead at halftime and held off a UH second-half rally to win for the second time in its last three trips to Honolulu. All-WAC guard Mac Hopson led the Vandals (8-4, 1-0 WAC) with a game-high 24 points.

 

Paul Campbell led UH with 14 points and seven rebounds. All but two of Campbell's points came in the first half. Roderick Flemings finished with 10 points, while UH's two other top scorers, Petras Balocka and Dwain Williams combined for just five points.

 

The 52 points was a season low for the Rainbow Warriors who shot just 37 percent from the field, including 29 percent in the second half. UH particularly struggled from distance, missing 14 of its 16 3-point attempts. The Vandals countered with 7-of-16 shooting from behind the arc.

 

It was back-and-forth early and UH led 20-19 with 7:20 left in the first half. However, Idaho went on a 17-5 run, including a running 3-pointer by Steffan Johnson at the halftime buzzer to suddenly give the Vandals a double-digit lead at the break.

 

Idaho took its biggest lead of the game, 40-26, on a Hopson 3-pointer with 16:25 left in the game. UH would rally with a 16-5 run to cut the lead to just three points. The Rainbow Warriors cut the lead to three on two other occasions and pair of Brandon Adams free throws made it 49-46 with 3:19 remaining. But the Vandals scored seven of the next eight points of the game to seal the victory.

 

UH continues its WAC homestand with a matchup against Boise State on Monday, Jan. 4. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.