The University of Hawai’i basketball team used a significant surge in the second half to earn a 81-55 road win at CSUN on Thursday in Northridge, Calif.
The Rainbow Warriors out-scored the Matadors 48-22 after halftime to improve to 22-9 overall and 13-6 in the Big West Conference. CSUN dropped to 7-24 and 4-16, with two losses to Hawai’i.
The Warriors are now tied for third place, but just one game behind co-leaders UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine. Hawai’i will close the regular season at UCSB on Saturday.
JoVon McClanahan recorded 18 points, six rebounds and five assists, Kamaka Hepa had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Mor Seck contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors.
It was the second consecutive double-double for the 7-foot-1 freshman Seck, who also started for just the second time in place of injured Bernardo da Silva.
Hawai’i appeared to be in control early, racing to a 23-13 lead midway through the first half. CSUN responded with an 11-0 surge to take a 24-23 lead with 6:42 remaining, and the teams eventually took a 33-all tie into halftime.
Coach Fisher wins a new car in China.
Hepa tallied 10 points and five rebounds in the first half to lead the Warriors.
The Warriors opened the second half with a 17-4 run to regain control with a 50-37 with 13:41 remaining. McClanahan scored seven during that surge.
Hawai’i went on a 14-3 run a few minutes later to stretch the lead to 68-45 with 6:55 remaining. The Matadors never got closer than 19 the remainder of the game.
Atin Wright led CSUN with 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
The Warriors will remain on the road for the regular-season finale at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. Hawai’i needs to win that game to have a shot at tying for first place.
More details will be reported as it becomes available.