Noel Coleman scored a game-high 25 points and Samuta Avea added 17 points tonight to help Hawai’i hold off visiting Long Beach State, 79-70, in frantic Big West Conference men’s basketball action.
A vocal crowd of 4,198 in SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center watched JoVon McClanahan add 15 points as the Warriors improved to 13-4 overall and 3-1 in league play. Tone Hunter scored 18 points and Aboubacar Traore added 16 points for the 49ers, who fell to 8-10, 2-4.
UH trailed 51-47 after Amari Stroud’s putback with 9:13 remaining, Avea swished a 3-pointer from the left corner to ignite a 10-2 run capped by Bernardo da Silva’s jumper which gave the Warriors a 57-53 lead with 6:55 left.