Warrior Insider

Noah Allen scored a game-high 24 points and Sheriff Drammeh added 16 points tonight as the University of Hawai’i shot past interstate rival UH-Hilo, 86-55, in non-conference men’s basketball action.

A sparse crowd of about 2,700 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Warriors improve to 3-2, while the Vulcans fell to 1-3.

Allen scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting (including 4-for-7 on 3-point goals) in the first half, after which UH led, 45-24. Drammeh had 11 points by halftime, including a perfect 3-for-3 from 3-point range.

As a team, the Rainbow Warriors shot 16 of 32 from the field in the first half, including 9 of 18 from beyond the arc. They also out-rebounded the smaller Vulcans, 21-11, including a 6-1 advantage off the offensive glass.

Allen’s 3-pointer from the left wing a minute into the game ignited a 9-0 run capped by Drammeh’s two free throws that put Hawai’i ahead, 11-2, two minutes later. Hilo later closed it to 14-7 on Randan Berinobis’ short bank shot with 16:10 remaining in the half, but the Rainbow Warriors answered with a 7-1 surge capped by Ido Flaisher’s jump hook to stretch the lead to 21-8 with 11:26 left.

A 9-1 run bookended by Brock Stepteau 3-pointers later extended it to 30-13 with 8:35 remaining, and Allen drained back-to-back 3-pointers near the end of the half to make it 45-22 with under a minute remaining.

The Vulcans could not get closer than 19 points in the second half.

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

(Game photo courtesy Brandon Flores / www.brandonfloresphotography.com)