KAILUA-KONA » Shaquille Stokes and his Hawaii teammates figured out the geometry when it mattered.

Stokes was among five Rainbow Warriors arriving late to Hawaii island due to final exams, but the freshman poured in a season-high 21 points to help UH rally for a 79-66 win over little brother Hawaii-Hilo on Friday night at Kealakehe Gym.

"I felt good, since earlier today I had a great final in my math," Stokes said. "I was happy about that. … I’ve just been feeling good ever since."

The Division II Vulcans were feeling pretty good themselves in building an 11-point lead at the midpoint of the first half. But UH (4-4) pulled even by halftime and exploded coming out of the break by making good on its size and using effective full-court pressure.

Junior center Vander Joaquim posted a double-double off the bench for the second straight game, as UH won consecutive contests for the first time this season. The Angolan captain had 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting and a career-high 17 rebounds.

Joaquim was another of the ‘Bows to arrive about 45 minutes before tipoff, along with top scorer Zane Johnson and all three of the team’s point guards — Stokes, Miah Ostrowski and Bobby Miles.

"Yeah, I’m tired. … When I crash out, I’m out. Go straight to bed," Joaquim said. "It’s been a long day. It was a tough one, but we made it. So I’m happy to get this win as a team. It’s been a while since we won on the road."

Indeed, technically it was UH’s first road win of the season. And it started off like many a UH road game, with the hosts jumping out on the ‘Bows. Even after a 9-0 UH effort to pull within 25-23, UHH led the whole first half en route to a 34-32 halftime edge.

"I don’t think our minds were quite there come tipoff time, and I can understand that," UH coach Gib Arnold said. "You’ve got some young kids, but that second half I was pleased. I thought the guys really came together defensively … and started moving that ball around."

After Arnold lit into his team at halftime, UH held its fellow state school to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half, compared to 51.4 percent for the ‘Bows.

"There’s two halves to a game," Stokes said. "We knew they couldn’t win in the first half. You still gotta play the second half."

Junior forward Joston Thomas kept UH in it early when many of his teammates appeared staggered by the fearlessness of the Division II Vulcans. He finished with 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting. That helped make up for a season-low effort by Johnson, who had a 31-game streak of making a 3-pointer snapped. The senior captain went 0-for-6 from long range and finished with six points.

The setting itself was even rarer.

It had been 21 years since the schools played a regular-season game, and it was UH’s first in a decade against anybody on Hawaii island, though the game’s uniqueness was not reflected in the turnout.

The Vulcans were playing on somewhat unfamiliar territory themselves, having to make a 2-hour drive across the island for the game. The crowd of 331 was split for the sibling schools in the 1,000-capacity gym.

UH opened the second half on a 15-2 run to capture its first lead emphatically. When Hilo clawed to within 51-49 with 10 minutes left, the Rainbows put away the game with 1-2-2 fullcourt defensive pressure spurring a 14-0 streak. The Vulcans were flummoxed by the new look at that stage.

Junior guard Terrell Mack kept the Vulcans in the game with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. But ultimately the Vulcans had no response to Stokes’ persistence and Joaquim’s inside play; every time the center was single-covered he lobbed a jump hook, and usually found the net.

"Their length, and our inability to hang onto the ball or make good passes at that time, was the difference in the game," UHH coach Jeff Law said. "We just kind of laid an egg coming out in the second half."

UH moves on to Maui today in preparation for Sunday’s game against North Carolina A&T (4-7) at War Memorial Gym in Wailuku. Johnson and Ostrowski fly back to Oahu in the morning for their graduation ceremonies, then fly to the Valley Isle in time for a 9 p.m. team practice.