Box Score
Post Game Quotes

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai`i men's basketball team hung close with league-leader Utah State before eventually succumbing, 61-50,  Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 9-18 overall and 2-11 in the Western Athletic Conference with the loss.

 

Despite winning the battle of the boards and doing an admirable job of containing the Aggies' efficient offense, UH didn't have enough firepower, finishing with a season-low 50 points. The 'Bows stayed close for much of the game but were ultimately done in by a 10-minute stretch in the first half that saw the team score just one point.

The loss—the team's ninth straight—dropped UH into ninth place in the league standings with three games remaining. The top eight teams qualify for the WAC Tournament in Reno, Nev., March 11-13.

 

Hiram Thompson led four Rainbow Warriors in double digit scoring with 13 points. Brandon Adams and Adhar Mayen each finished with 12 points, while Roderick Flemings chipped in 11 points. Unfortunately for the 'Bows, those four alone generated nearly all the production as they scored all but two of the team's points.

 

Jared Quayle had 13 points for the Aggies (23-6, 12-2 WAC), who won their 13^th straight game.

 

UH came out strong and held a four-point lead midway through the first frame, but scored just one point in the final 10 minutes and went scoreless in the final 6:40 as the Aggies went on a 12-1 run to take a 25-17 lead at the break. UH shot just 28 percent in the first half.

 

The 'Bows rebounded with 58 percent shooting in the second half, but the Aggies would not relinquish the lead. UH stayed within striking distance and drew within six points on a pair of occasion. But the Aggies eventually stretched their lead to 14 points—their biggest lead of the game—on a Brian Green 3-pointer with 3:42 left and never looked back.

 

UH will now face Nevada on “Senior Night,” Saturday, Feb. 27. The home finale will mark the last home appearance of five seniors—Adams, Petras Balocka, Paul Campbell, Flemings and Mayen.