Warrior Insider

Stefan Jankovic scored a game-high 29 points — including 16 in the first half — and Isaac Fleming added 16 points, four assists and three steals tonight to help Hawai’i hold off and then pull away from visiting Hawai’i Pacific, 83-71, in non-conference men’s basketball action.

A patient crowd of 2,649 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Aaron Valdes and Quincy Smith each add 10 points and seven rebounds, and Mike Thomas contribute eight points and seven rebounds as the Rainbow Warriors improved to 7-1. HPU, which competes in NCAA Division II, remained at 4-3, as it was an exhibition for the Sharks.

The Sharks actually led, 30-29, late in the first half and trailed 42-41 four minutes into the second half after Jordan Martin’s 3-pointer from the right corner. But UH responded with a 23-2 surge started by Valdes’ layup and capped by Jankovic’s baby left hook shot with 9:23 remaining to make it 64-43. HPU chipped away and later cut the lead to 75-65 on Chauncey Orr’s bank shot with 1:46 left, but could get no closer as Fleming answered with a layup 16 seconds later and Niko Filipovich effectively sealed the victory with two free throws at the 1:05 mark to make it 79-66.

The Rainbow Warriors started the game leading 10-2, but Sharks guard Trevor Baker came off the bench to drain three quick-and-deep 3-pointers to put HPU ahead, 13-12, with 14:02 remaining in the first half. The teams then traded baskets for awhile and the Sharks went up, 30-29, on Martin’s putback with 3:28 left. Stefan Jovanovic answered with two free throws at the 2:40 mark to put UH back ahead at 31-30, but Colfax Nordquist sank a free throw for HPU with 1:23 remaining and the teams went into halftime tied at 31-31.

More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.

(Game photo courtesy Matt Osumi)