Hawaii Rainbow Warriors basketball team beats Hawaii Pacific
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii’s Samuta Avea soared in for a dunk past HPU’s Tavon Tarpley during the first half.
The Hawaii men’s basketball team ground its way past Division II neighbor Hawaii Pacific, 58-41, tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.
A Sunday night crowd of 2,240 was on hand to witness both teams get off to slow starts offensively. Only the host team was able to shake the malaise, and only to an extent. UH’s sloppy play was summed up in its count of 17 turnovers, but it still managed to win its third straight heading into its second road game of the year.
Senior shooting guard Eddie Stansberry paced the Rainbow Warriors (6-2) with 15 points. Point guard Drew Buggs had nine points, five assists and five turnovers.
HPU, a D-II team that was allowed to use the game as an exhibition, struggled to 18-for-60 shooting (30%). Forward Ronald Blain was particularly off the mark, shooting 1-for-15.
The Sharks of the PacWest Conference led early, until Samuta Avea energized his team with a putback dunk and Buggs’ layup put the Rainbows ahead 10-9. It was 25-15 UH at halftime.
The lead grew to as many as 21 points late.
UH next prepares to head to Eugene, Ore., to face No. 11 Oregon on Saturday.
UH does not play at home again until facing Samford on Dec. 15.
