Warrior Insider

Eddie Stansberry scored 24 points to lead the University of Hawai’i basketball team to a 79-71 victory over New Orleans on Sunday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Warriors pulled away from the Privateers in the final five minutes to improve to 4-2. UNO dropped to 1-4 with its fourth consecutive loss.

Zigmars Raimo added 15 points and nine rebounds, Samuta Avea scored 12, and Drew Buggs finished with 11 points and seven assists for the Warriors.

Stansberry shot 6 of 9 from the field, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and 8 of 10 on free throws. Raimo  was 4 of 5 from the field, as the Warriors shot 54.8 percent for the game.

The first half was close throughout. Hawai’i had a 29-23 lead late in the half, but the Privateers went on an 8-2 run to cut the Warriors’ lead to 31-29 at intermission.

Stansberry scored 11 in the first half, including 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range. The Warriors committed 14 turnovers in the first half, although UNO managed to score just six points directly off of those turnovers. Hawai’i finished the game with 20 turnovers.

It stayed close in the second half, with the lead changing six times in the first four minutes. The Warriors took a 44-39 lead following a 7-0 surge, but UNO responded with a 5-0 spurt of its own to tie it at 44.

Hawai’i took the lead for good with 11:22 remaining. A 7-0 surge by the Warriors gave them a 72-63 lead with 2:27 remaining.

The Warriors will remain at home for their next two games, hosting San Francisco on Friday, then Hawai’i Pacific on December 1.

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