Warrior Insider

Samuta Avea scored a game-high 19 points and JoVon McClanahan added 16 points tonight to help Hawai’i shut down Washington State, 62-51, and reach the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic championship game for the first time in the tournament’s 13-year history.

A vocal and appreciative crowd of 3,109 in SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center along with a national TV audience on ESPN2 watched  Noel Coleman contribute 13 points as the Warriors improved to 8-3 and advanced to Sunday’s 3:30 p.m. title game against Southern Methodist (5-7). TJ Bamba discord 17 points to lead the Cougars, who fell to 5-7.

UH led 24-23 after a tight first half, then broke away from a 35-35 tie with 11:41 remaining in the game on Avea’s baseline floater, which ignited an 8-0 run capped by Avea’s jumper to make it 43-35 with 9:20 left. Coleman then scored a layup to start a 7-0 surge culminating in McClanahan’s free throws to extend the lead to 55-40 with 2:29 on the clock.

Washington State cut it to 55-46 on Jabe Mullins’ jumper with 1:28 remaining, but Beon Riley and McClanahan sank four straight free throws and Riley sealed the victory by draining a 3-pointer with 14 ticks left.

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

Friday’s Results
Semifinals
SMU 77, Utah State 74
Hawai’i 62, Washington State 51
Consolation
Iona 83, Seattle 72
Pepperdine 81, George Washington 70

Sunday’s Games
8:30 a.m. – Seattle vs. George Washington for 7th place
10:30 a.m. – Iona vs. Pepperdine for 5th place
1:30 p.m. – Utah State vs. Washington State for 3rd place
3:30 p.m. – Hawai’i vs. SMU for championship