Hawaii beats UC Riverside 80-71, stays perfect in Big West
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) Quincy Smith scored a career-high 17 points - and three others scored 15 apiece - as Hawaii defeated UC Riverside 80-71 on Thursday night to remain unbeaten in the Big West Conference.
Smith shot 7 of 12 from the floor, adding six assists, and scored 13 points in the first half when Hawaii (14-2, 3-0) took a 40-27 lead at the break. The Rainbow Warriors led by as many as 16 points early in the second half.
Isaac Fleming, Mike Thomas and Stefan Jankovic each scored 15 points for Hawaii.
Jaylen Bland scored 22 points and Secean Johnson 21 to lead UC Riverside (9-10, 0-3) which mounted a challenge in the second half and came within 76-71 on a Johnson dunk with 27 seconds left in the game.
Hawaii closed out the final seconds with a Sai Tummala dunk and two free throws from Fleming.