In its final “live audition” before the upcoming and much-anticipated Diamond Head Classic, the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team was tested early but pulled away from and eventually held off visiting Hawai’i Pacific, 83-71, Saturday night.
A patient crowd of 2,649 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Stefan Jankovic score a career-high 29 points — including 16 in the first half — and Isaac Fleming add 16 points, four assists and three steals. Aaron Valdes had 12 points, a career-high seven assists and five rebounds, Quincy Smith added 10 points and seven rebounds, and Mike Thomas contributed eight points and seven boards as the Rainbow Warriors improved to 7-1.