HONOLULU, Hawai'i – The Hawai'i Hilo men's basketball team opened its season Thursday evening with an island hop to O'ahu for an exhibition against Hawai'i Manoa at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The game was knotted up through the first five minutes, but the Division-I Rainbow Warriors pulled away for the 87-71 victory.
Darren Williams (Rancho Cucamonga, California/Rancho Cucamonga HS), Carlos Ramsey Jr. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin/Arizona Compass Prep School), Isaiah Ervin (St. Louis, Missouri/Hazelwood Central HS), Nadjrick Peat (Alexandria, Jamaica/York Castle HS) and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones (Wellington, New Zealand/St. Patrick's College) were the five starters for the Vulcans.
Jarin Edwards (Oakland, California/Bishop O'Dowd HS) and Cameron Wall (Folsom, California/Folsom HS) were among the first players off the bench as each totaled double-digit minutes.
By The Numbers
- Ramsey Jr. led the team with 21 points on nine-of-18 shooting to go along with five rebounds and two steals.
- Tait-Jones followed with 14 points on two 3-pointers and a perfect four of four at the free-throw line.
- Williams also finished with double-digit scoring figures, putting in 13 on four-of-10 shooting while also going four for four at the charity stripe.
- Peat nearly totaled a double-double, finishing with nine points and nine boards while going five of eight at the free-throw line.
- The Rainbow Warriors' depth provided a 43-11 bench-points margin while also getting the best of the Vulcans in field-goal percentage (.611-.390) and three-point shooting (.464-.294).
- Both teams ended pretty evenly in the remaining numbers with points in the paint (36-30), second-chance points (13-15), fast-break scores (15-11), points off turnovers (15-17), rebounds (30-30), turnovers (13-16) and steals (9-6).
- The Vulcans went 20 of 24 at the free-throw line (.833) while UHM shot eight for 14 (.571).
What's Next
Both schools remain 0-0 after Thursday's exhibition game.
The Vulcans will return to Hilo for their home opener next Friday, Nov. 11 against SAGU American Indian College (NCCAA) at 6:30 p.m. in the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Rainbow Warriors will play Mississippi Valley State Friday, Nov. 11 at home as part of the Outrigger Rainbow Classic.
