David Collette scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds tonight to help Utah roll past Hawai’i, 66-52, in the consolation round of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
A crowd of about 4,200 at the Stan Sheriff Center and national ESPNU TV audience watched the Utes (8-3) build a 20-point lead midway through the second half, and then hold off a late mini-rally by the Warriors (4-7).
Utah advances to play Stephen F. Austin in Sunday’s fifth-place game at 7:30 a.m., while UH will face Southern Mississippi for seventh place at 9:30 a.m.
The Utes led the Warriors from wire-to-wire, including 31-18 at halftime after Hawai’i shot just 25 percent (6 of 24) from the field.