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The Maui News
The University of Hawaii men's basketball team was eliminated from the Big West Conference tournament Thursday after falling in the quarterfinals to Cal State Fullerton 62-60 in overtime in Henderson, Nev.
The fifth-seeded Rainbow Warriors overcame a five-point deficit in the final minute of regulation, capped by Noel Coleman's dramatic 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime, but the No. 4-seeded Titans scored the final five points of the overtime period to pull out the win.
Samuta Avea led Hawaii (22-11) with 19 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season in his final game in a UH jersey. Coleman finished with 14 points while JoVon McClanahan added 12 points and five assists.
Kamaka Hepa posted seven points and a team-high 12 rebounds in the last game of his two-year UH career.
Max Jones led Cal State Fullerton (19-12) with 18 points, while Latrell Wrightsell Jr. added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Rainbow Warriors held the Titans to just 35 percent shooting for the game but committed 18 turnovers, while forcing just four. The Titans parlayed 20 points from those turnovers and doubled up UH in points in the paint (32-16).
Despite the loss, the Rainbow Warriors finish with their highest win total in seven years.
Meanwhile, the UH women had the day off after their quarterfinal win Wednesday and will face Long Beach State today in the Big West semifinals.