Mike Thomas scored a career-high 29 points with nine rebounds and Leland Green added 18 points tonight as Hawai’i held off North Dakota, 81-78, in the 53rd Annual Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic.
A Stan Sheriff Center crowd of about 4,200 watched Brock Stepteau add 10 points and five assists as the Warriors improved to 2-0 heading into Monday’s 7 p.m. finale against Troy.
Thomas scored 19 of his points in the first half, when UH jumped out to a 10-2 start and then stretched the lead to 34-12 after Thomas’ free throw with 6:38 remaining. The Fighting Hawks then closed it to 46-31 on Geno Crandall’s running 3-point shot at the halftime buzzer.