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HONOLULU, Hawai'i - Matt Gibson scored 20 points for Hawai'i, including 18 in the second-half to lead the Rainbow Warriors to a 69-61 win against Utah State here Monday night. Hawai'i improves to 12-9 overall and 3-5 in the WAC with the win, while USU falls to 15-7 overall and 4-4 in league play with the loss.
Chaz Spicer led Utah State with 18 points, while Jaycee Carroll added 13.
Utah State opened its biggest lead of the game at 45-38 on a pair of free throws by Durrall Peterson before Hawai'i went on a 25-6 run to take its biggest lead of the game at 63-51 with just over two minutes remaining.
Hawai'i scored the first five points of the game before Utah State took its first lead of the game at 10-8 on a three-pointer by Peterson. USU extended its lead to five on a three-pointer by Spicer before Hawai'i scored seven of the next nine points to regain the lead. The Rainbow Warriors increased its lead to 23-18 on a layup by Mat Gibson before Utah State closed the half on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 25.
Chaz Spicer led Utah State with 12 first-half points as he was three-of-four from the field, two-of-two from three-point range, and four-of-four from the free throw line. In the first-half, USU shot just 36.4 percent from the field (8-22), but did make three-of-six three-pointers (.500) and six-of-eight free throws (.750). Hawai'i was led by Bobby Nash's 11 points as the Rainbow Warriors shot 38.5 percent from the field (10-26), but were just two-of-11 (.182) from behind the arc.
In the game, Utah State shot 35.3 from the field and 41.2 percent from thee-point range, while Hawai'i shot 47.2 overall and 30.0 from behind the arc. In the second-half, Hawai'i shot 55.6 percent from the field. The Rainbow Warriors also had 10 blocks in the game to Utah State's one.
Utah State will return to action on Sat., Feb. 3 when it hosts San Jose State at 7:05 p.m. (MT).
