SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team lost its first game of the season with a 79-66 setback to Utah Thursday night at the Delta Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped to 5-1 on the season.
UH hung tough in the first half, trailing by just five at the break. But the Utes shot 59 percent in the second half to breakaway for a double-digit win. Center Branden Carlson led four Utes (5-2) in double-digits with 17 points.
Noel Coleman led UH with 14 points with all but one one of those coming in the first half. Juan Munoz scored 12 points, his most thus far as a Rainbow Warrior, while Justin McKoy and Harry Rouhliadeff each chipped in 11 points.
The first half had momentum swings for both squads. The Utes drew first blood with a 15-3 run that gave them a double-digit lead just five minutes in. But UH didn’t cower. The ‘Bows responded with a 14-3 run of their own to take a 27-26 lead with 8:17 left in the half.
It would be the first and only lead UH would hold however. Utah scored nine of the next 11 points and eventually took a 39-34 lead at halftime. The Utes extended the lead to as many as 16 points in the second half and turned back each UH comeback attempt.
Utah, the tallest team in the country, became the first team to beat the ‘Bows on the boards, out-rebounding UH, 38-29. The Utes also out-scored UH 44-24 in the paint.
The Rainbow Warriors now return home where they will play their next seven games through the month of December. First up is a matchup with Central Arkansas on Sunday, Dec. 3 as a part of a double-header with the Rainbow Wahine. The women will take on the San Jose State at 2 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 5 p.m. All youth (high school and younger) get in free, while all military service members receive a 50 percent discount.
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