Eddie Stansberry and Samuta Avea scored 12 points apiece in the first half and Justin Webster added 10 as Hawaii took an early lead and never trailed in beating Samford 94-73 this afternoon.

A turnstile crowd of 2,928 at the Stan Sheriff Center saw the host Rainbow Warriors improve to 7-3 with their fourth win in their last five games. The Bulldogs fell to 6-6.

Five Rainbows finished in double-figure scoring, led by Stansberry with 23 as Hawaii scored a season-high points.

Samford’s Josh Sharkey was team-high with 21.

UH jumped to an early lead, making it 19-4 less than six minutes into the game as Justin Webster and Drew Buggs hit back-to-back 3-pointers.

Buggs hit all four of his shots, including three 3-pointers. The Hawaii point guard finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

The Bulldogs battled back and closed it to 40-36 late in the first half. But baskets by Avea and Dawson Carper sandwiched a 3-pointer by Stansberry, and UH led 47-36 at the break.

Buggs hit from long range to start the second-half scoring, and Samford never again got within single digits. Hawaii’s next game is Dec. 22 against UTEP in the opening round of the Diamond Head Classic.