Warriors pull away from HPU in season opener, 83-50
Newcomer James Jean-Marie scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Mate Colina added 16 points and six boards and Justin Webster contributed 14 points and four rebounds tonight to help Hawai’i pull away for a 83-50 season-opening victory over crosstown rival Hawai’i Pacific.
Playing before a crowd-less SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, graduate transfer Casdon Jardine added 11 points and five boards for the Warriors, who originally were scheduled to open the season against Washington State on Nov. 11 but had that and at least five other games canceled due to the impact of COVID-19. Tonight’s game was officially an “exhibition” for HPU and thus will not count in the Sharks’ record.
UH jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the first five minutes but the Warriors’ play got a bit ragged and Hawai’i Pacific found its rhythm, eventually taking a 17-13 lead after back-to-back 3-pointers by David Rowlands to cap a 14-4 run with eight minutes remaining in the half.
The Warriors recovered with a 14-8 surge capped by Colina’s two free throws to take a 27-23 lead with 1:42 left, and proceeded to secure a 30-25 lead at halftime.
Hawai’i then opened the second half with a 14-4 run in the first four minutes to go up, 44-29, and HPU never got closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
