Warriors run past Eastern Washington, 71-51
Kamaka Hepa had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead the University of Hawai’i basketball team to a 71-51 victory over Eastern Washington on Day 2 of the Outrigger Rainbow Classic.
A crowd of 2,589 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Warriors improve to 2-0. Eastern Washington dropped to 0-3.
Hawai’i will face Yale in what amounts to the championship game of the tournament on Monday.
Noel Coleman added 15 points, Bernardo da Silva 14, and Samuta Avea scored 10 for the Warriors.
Hepa went 3 for 3, including two 3-pointers, in the opening four minutes of the game to guide the Warriors to a 12-2 lead.
Hawai’i stayed in front the rest of the way. The Eagles cut it to 21-19 with 5 minutes remaining in the first half, but the Warriors closed the half with a 12-4 surge to take a 33-23 advantage at intermission.
Hepa led the first half effort, recording 12 points and five rebounds before halftime. The Eagles never got closer than 10 points in the second half, and the Warriors turned it into a blowout in the closing minutes.
In Sunday’s first game, Yale defeated Mississippi Valley State, 80-51.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
