Warrior Insider

Triston Simpson scored 22 points and Stanley Umude added 21 points and seven rebounds tonight to help South Dakota hold off Hawai’i, 81-75, in the second round of the 55th Annual Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic.

An energized and vocal Sunday evening crowd of about 3,200 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Eddie Stansberry score 21 points and grab five boards and Samuta Avea add 14 points for the Warriors, who fell to 1-1. Hunter Goodrick contributed 15 points for the Coyotes, who improved to 2-0.

South Dakota led 35-27 at halftime and was ahead, 64-54, with 7:14 remaining, but Stansberry swished a 3-pointer from the right corner to start UH on a 14-7 run capped by Stansberry’s two free throws to close it to 71-68 with 1:44 left. Tyler Peterson then made one of two free throws 23 seconds later to push the lead to 72-68, but Zigmars Raimo scored on a driving layup to cut it to 72-70 with 1:08 remaining.

Goodrich converted one of two free throws to make it 73-70 with 0:51.9 showing on the clock, and Drew Buggs missed a layup in heavy traffic on the Warriors’ next possession. Simpson then sank two free free throws to push the lead to 75-70 with 36.5 seconds left, but Stansberry darned another 3-pointer from the top of the key eight seconds later to close it to 75-73. 

Cody Kelley made two free throws to push the lead to 77-73 with 18.3 seconds remaining, but Buggs scored a layup on the other end to cut it to 77-75 and Hawai’i called timeout with 11.9 ticks on the clock. But Kelley sank two more free throws to make it 79-75, and Buggs could not convert a layup while being bumped in midair on the other end.

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