Hawaiʻi men's basketball turns back Pacific Tigers

The wait to win the Rainbow Classic is over!

The University of Hawaiʻi Men's Basketball team carried the momentum from their first two game wins and defeated the Pacific Tigers, 76-66, at the Stan Sheriff Center on Monday. For Hawaiʻi, this marks their 16th time winning the Outrigger Rainbow Classic, and the first time since 2017.

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Graduate transfers Gytis Nemeiksa and Marcus Greene led the 'Bows to victory with 18 points each, and Nemeiksa posted a double-double with 10 rebounds to Greene's seven. Tanner Christensen chipped in 14, and Tom Beattie logged 10.

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Elijah Fisher proved to be a thorn in Hawaiʻi's side, as he led Pacific with 21 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Elias Ralph added 17 on 7-of-14 shooting, and Lamar Washington rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11.

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Pacific scored nine of the first 11 points of the game, including the first six straight, while UH took a bit to get going.

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Two Christensen dunks and an Akira Jacobs triple started a 14-2 UH run, and UH eventually found themselves in front. Pacific still had an answer somewhere.

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The Tigers came back to take the lead while UH went cold from the field for a little while. A Jefferson Koulibaly driving layup sparked a 6-0 Pacific run, but UH still held on to the lead. Pacific took the lead for good in the first half off a Ralph fast break layup with 3:15 to go.

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After the first half, Pacific held a slim, 37-35, lead over Hawaiʻi.

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The second half began with Pacific making its first two baskets, but UH ignited a 9-1 run to take a 44-42 lead with 14:33 remaining. Pacific tied the score on the next possession off a Fisher hook shot, but UH had none of it.

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Two Beattie free throws put UH back in front for good while Nemeiksa grabbed vital rebounds, and Greene anchored the team at the point position.

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UH's bench also came to life. Aside from Nemeiksa and Greene, Jerome Palm and Aaron Hunkin-Claytor made some key field goals to make up all of UH's 44 bench points to Pacific's six.

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UH extended their lead to 11, and Pacific was out of answers. The 'Bows would win the game going away.

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Hawaiʻi will return to the Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. HST in a first-time matchup against the Weber State Wildcats. You can watch the game on Spectrum Sports or listen on ESPN Honolulu.