The Maui News
The University of Hawaii men's basketball team overcame a 16-point, first-half deficit before holding off Long Beach State 78-76 on Friday night at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
Justin Webster led the Rainbow Warriors (9-8, 7-8 Big West Conference) with 16 points. Jovon McClanahan had 13 points, Justin Hemsley scored 12 and Mate Colina 10.
After falling behind big, UH still trailed 39-30 at halftime. The 49ers opened up a 14-point lead early in the second half before a furious rally by the Rainbow Warriors tied the game at 57 with 10:56 left. A minute later, UH took its first lead of the game after McClanahan's layup made it 61-60.
The teams traded blows until McClanahan's jumper with 3:50 remaining gave UH the lead for good. Chance Hunter's 3-point attempt at the buzzer bounced off the rim to seal Hawaii's victory.
Hunter finished with 23 points to lead Long Beach State (5-8, 4-5). Isaiah Washington chipped in 17.
Earlier Friday, the UH women picked up a close win of their own over the Beach with a 77-75 victory in Long Beach, Calif.
Rainbow Wahine senior Amy Atwell tied her career high with 25 points, the final two coming on what proved to be the game-winning jumper with 1:07 remaning.
Atwell also had nine rebounds. Nnenna Orji had 11 points, Daejah Phillips added 10 points and Kasey Neubert pulled down 11 rebounds for Hawaii (6-6, 5-5).
Justina King and Naomi Hunt each scored 18 points, and Ma'Qhi Berry added 16 for Long Beach State (11-6, 10-5).
The teams play again today.
College basketball
Friday's Results
MEN
AP TOP 25
No. 21 Loyola of Chicago 60, S. Illinois 52
EAST
Bryant 63, LIU 60
CCSU 83, Wagner 77
Merrimack 75, St. Francis Brooklyn 67
North Texas 77, Marshall 65
Purdue 73, Penn St. 52
Sacred Heart 70, Fairleigh Dickinson 64
Siena 74, Manhattan 69
St. Bonaventure 88, George Washington 41
St. Peter's 66, Rider 52
SOUTH
Appalachian St. 84, Ga. Southern 78, 2OT
Coastal Carolina 75, Troy 59
Drexel 84, James Madison 78
FAU 69, Southern Miss. 60
Georgia St. 84, South Alabama 81
Kennesaw St. 80, Florida Gulf Coast 63
Louisiana Tech 101, Rice 57
North Florida 79, Stetson 74
Old Dominion 67, Middle Tennessee 61
MIDWEST
Bowling Green 83, Akron 71
Cincinnati 91, Tulane 71
Drake 80, Bradley 71
Indiana St. 58, Valparaiso 43
Missouri St. 90, Evansville 81
N. Iowa 70, Illinois St. 56
S. Dakota St. 67, UMKC 49
Saint Louis 72, Richmond 67
SOUTHWEST
Louisiana-Lafayette 66, UALR 61
New Mexico St. 78, Tarleton St. 51
Texas State 58, Louisiana-Monroe 49
Texas-Arlington 73, Arkansas St. 71
UAB 64, UTSA 57
FAR WEST
CS Bakersfield 84, CS Northridge 58
Hawaii 78, Long Beach St. 76
Idaho 74, Montana St. 69
Nebraska-Omaha 80, Denver 76
S. Utah 92, N. Arizona 62
Seattle 63, Grand Canyon 57
UC Davis 69, Cal Poly 61
UC Irvine 80, UC San Diego 55
UC Santa Barbara 72, UC Riverside 68
UNLV 68, Fresno St. 67
Utah St. 75, Nevada 72
Utah Valley 78, Rio Grande 74
WOMEN
EAST
Duquesne 74, La Salle 70
Quinnipiac 71, Niagara 57
Rhode Island 70, Richmond 56
Saint Joseph's 66, St. Bonaventure 63
St. Peter's 66, Siena 58
VCU 72, UMass 69
SOUTH
Appalachian St. 77, Georgia Southern 66
Campbell 53, Radford 50
Charlotte 62, UTEP 53
FAU 78, Southern Miss. 63
Gardner-Webb 76, UNC-Asheville 56
Georgia St. 60, South Alabama 45
Longwood 85, High Point 69
Louisiana-Lafayette 63, UALR 52
Old Dominion 74, Middle Tennessee 57
Saint Louis 57, Davidson 45
Texas State 85, Louisiana-Monroe 62
Troy 97, Coastal Carolina 82
UNC-Greensboro 54, W. Carolina 42
UNC-Wilmington 68, Coll. of Charleston 66
W. Kentucky 66, FIU 56
MIDWEST
S. Dakota St. 73, UMKC 53
Utah Valley 62, Rio Grande 54
SOUTHWEST
North Texas 52, Marshall 51
Rice 73, Louisiana Tech 50
Texas-Arlington 60, Arkansas St. 40
FAR WEST
Denver 94, Nebraska-Omaha 82
Grand Canyon 90, Seattle 43
Hawaii 77, Long Beach St. 75
San Diego St. 74, Boise St. 72
Tarleton St. 62, New Mexico St. 53
UC Davis 63, Cal Poly 47
UC San Diego 66, UC Irvine 63
UC Santa Barbara 68, UC Riverside 52
UCLA 93, Southern Cal 51