HONOLULU — In its second and final tune-up before the regular season opens, the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warrior basketball team defeated Chaminade, 80-63, in an exhibition game last night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors used a
HONOLULU — In its second and final tune-up before the regular season opens, the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warrior basketball team defeated Chaminade, 80-63, in an exhibition game last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Warriors used a strong performance from its starters and a second-half surge to defeat the Division II Silverswords.
After struggling from the floor in its first exhibition win over UH Hilo, the ‘Bows found their shooting touch against Chaminade. UH shot nearly 60 percent from the floor in the first half and finished the game at a 50 percent clip. The Bows also shot 80 percent from the line (21-26) and nailed five of its first 10 three-point attempts.
Four players scored in double digits for Hawai‘i, led by Bill Amis with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting. The junior forward also added 12 rebounds for his second double-double in an as many exhibition games. Junior college transfer Lasha Parghalava poured in 21 points, with 15 of those coming by halftime. Petras Balocka added 15 points, while Adhar Mayen finished with 10.
Jamar Berry and Shane Hanson led Chaminade with 11 points each.
The game went back-and-forth early on with five ties and five lead changes during the first 10 minutes. UH got some breathing room with a 12-0 run—spurred by eight points from Parghalava—that gave the Rainbow Warriors a 27-18 lead. Hawai‘i eventually took a 47-41 lead into the half over the scrappy Silverswords on the strength of 59 percent shooting and the trio of Parghalava, Amis and Balocka, who accounted for all but six of the team’s points by the break.
UH scored the first four points of the second half to extend its lead to double digits and never looked back after that, building its lead to as many as 18. In the end, Hawai‘i got nearly all its offense from its starters, who scored 75 of the team’s 80 points.
Hawai‘i now gears up for its season opener on Friday against San Francisco in the Verizon Wireless Tip-off Classic at 7:35 p.m.
