HILO, Hawai`i—Host Hawai`i Hilo broke open a tight game with a second half scoring barrage, holding off a pesky but game Northwest Indian College squad on Thursday night at the Civic Auditorium, 106-75.

The non-conference victory was UHH's fourth win in their last five outings as they wrapped up the calendar year at 5-6 and cracked the century mark for the first time this season. The Eagles dropped to 0-22.

Parker Farris led the Vulcans with 27 points, with Brian Ishola adding another double-double with 22 points and 11 boards. Randan Berinobis pulled down a career-high 24 rebounds—nine on the offensive end and 15 from errant Eagle shots.

UHH outscored Northwest Indian 62-33 in the second half, but the first 20 minutes had a completely different look.

Northwest Indian, based near Bellingham, Wash., nearly matched the Vulcans shot-for-shot in the first half, despite being out-rebounded 30-13. The Eagles tied the game for the first time at 16-16 on a Mike Schjang leaner and the visitors then put up a five-point lead (23-18) thanks to a trey by Thomas Sylvester with 11:30 to go in the half.

With the score tied at 31-31, the Vulcans went on a 10-3 run fueled in part by three-pointers from Farris and Ryan Reyes. UHH would capture its largest lead of the half (41-36) after Ishola banked one home, but a pair of treys from Blaise Hall pulled the Eagles to within a basket at the break, 44-42.

Schjang, a 5-8 guard, had 18 points at intermission on a variety of leaners and drives. Farris countered with 15 in the first 20 minutes, but 14 Vulcan turnovers helped the visitors cause.

With the score tied at 49-49 early in the second half, the Vulcans finally broke things open. They went on a 10-0 run and a 22-4 blitz overall to put enough space between the two for the rest of the night.

Schjang finished with 23 points to for the Eagles, while teammate Sylvester had Eagle honors with 24.

UHH had just four turnovers in the second half and shot .615 from the field after the break. Reyes joined Farris and Ishola in double figures with 10 points, as did Eric Wattree with 11 and Arnold Silva with 14.

"Randan provided the energy we needed, he woke us up," said head coach GE Coleman. "We came out flat. We can't sleep walk against anyone, we have little margin for error. We have to play harder than anyone else and we have to play the right way. The second half was more like we need to play."

The Vulcans will return to Pacific West Conference play on Tuesday (Jan 3), hosting Azusa Pacific. Start time is 7:30 p.m. at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.