The University of Hawaiʻi Men's Basketball team began their 2023-24 non-conference season with a win against intra-island rival, the UH-Hilo Vulcans, 82-66, at the Stan Sheriff Center on Tuesday.

 

Grad transfer Justin McKoy led all UH players with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Freshman point guard Tom Beattie was next in line with 12 off the bench, and senior Noel Coleman rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10.

 

Senior captain Bernardo da Silva drew first blood for UH Mānoa with a layup at the shot clock buzzer. Although the Vulcans took a brief lead, the Rainbow Warriors were not to be denied after a 92-58 pummeling to #23 St. Mary's just three weeks ago on Oct. 20.

 

UH defended well against their intra-island rivals and held the Vulcans to 32% shooting (10-31) in the first half. The Vulcans did not hit a triple in the first half while the 'Bows hit six. Ultimately, UH led at the end of the first half, 35-23.

 

"We put it together for the most part, a good game," McKoy said, adding they played 32 complete minutes of 40.

 

The 'Bows kept the momentum going in the second half. After their lead was trimmed to single digits, UH did not fold and extended it to 23. Sophomore Mor Seck came through with some strong field goals and a couple of slam dunks.

 

An honorable mention goes to senior Juan Munoz, who scored nine points in his first official game as a Rainbow Warrior. Munoz had one triple and was a perfect 4-of-4 at the free-throw line. He also assisted one of Seck's slam dunks en route to the 88-56 win.

 

"The biggest thing for Mor is to keep him engaged," Munoz said of Seck. "If he's screening hard or rolling hard, I got to reward him."

 

Charles Elzie III led UH-Hilo with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting. He was followed by Kalique Mitchell's 15 points and game-high nine rebounds, and Amiri Crowder had 11 points of his own.

 

UH will return to the Stan Sheriff Center on Thursday, Nov. 16 in a first-time meeting against the Niagara Purple Eagles. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. HST.