UNI Falls To Hawaii In Diamond Head Opener

Hawaii defeated the UNI Panthers, 68-52, in the quarterfinals of the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu Tuesday night (Dec. 22, 2015).

The Rainbow Warriors (8-1) used a 12-0 spurt late in the second half to put the game away and remained undefeated (8-0) on their home court at the Stan Sheriff Center. Four straight steals by Isaac Fleming -- three of which resulted in fast-break lay-ups -- gave Hawaii an insurmountable 21-point lead with four-minutes, 30-seconds remaining.

The game got a way from the Panthers (7-4) when Wes Washpun was called for his fifth personal foul and went to the bench with 5:41 remaining in the game, although UNI trailed 58-47 at the time. Washpun ended the night with 10 points, one of three players to tally double-figures for the Panthers.

UNI, which was coming off an 81-79 upset of No. 5 Iowa State on Saturday, was led by Jeremy Morgan's 13 points. Matt Bohannon added 11 while becoming the school's new all-time 3-point shooter. Less than four minutes into the game, Bohannon drained his 204th career trifecta to break the mark he shared Ben Jacobson (2002-06).

It was a 3-point basket by Paul Jesperson with 11:42 left in the first half that gave the Panthers their largest lead of the game at 19-14. Hawaii regained the lead with a 6-0 run. Later, a jumper by Washpun in the paint at the 6:19 mark gave UNI its last lead at 24-23.

UNI was shutout the rest of the half, as the Rainbow Warriors' entered the break with a 35-24 lead after closing the half with a 10-0 run.

Aaron Valdes scored a game-high 15 points for Hawaii and was one of four Rainbow Warriors in double-figures.

Hawaii advances to play No. 3 Oklahoma in the second of two semifinal games Wednesday. UNI will take on Washington State in consolation play at 10:30 p.m. (CT) Wednesday (Dec. 23).