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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, March 9, 2003

Rainbow Warriors close out home season with win

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i's three seniors, from left, Ryne Holliday, Lance Takaki and Mark Campbell were honored after last night's victory over UTEP.

Eugene Tanner •The Honolulu Advertiser

It's true, aloha can mean so many things.

The University of Hawai'i proved that with a resounding 77-63 victory over Texas-El Paso last night.

The Rainbow Warriors bid a memorable home farewell to seniors Mark Campbell, Ryne Holliday and Lance Takaki in style, leading the game from start to finish.

The 'Bows completed the regular season 17-10 overall and 9-9 in the Western Athletic Conference. They will be the No. 5 seed for the WAC Tournament, and will face No. 4 Rice in a quarterfinal game Thursday at Tulsa, Okla.

A crowd of 8,959 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the 'Bows spread the aloha both during and after the game.

"We played our type of game and everybody got in," said Michael Kuebler, who scored a game-high 26 points. "I'd say it was a good way to celebrate."

Aloha meant hello to Kuebler's offense, which had been absent the past month. He shot 9-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range.

In the seven games prior to last night, Kuebler had been averaging 7.3 points per game and was 3 of 20 from 3-point range. All this week, he stayed after practice to rediscover his jump shot.

"I think it was a little more than a slump," said the 6-foot-5 junior. "I was in a funk with everything. But the last four or five days, I must have put up about 500 shots every day after practice. I knew it would come back."

It was back from the start as he scored 11 points in the first seven minutes of the game, when the 'Bows raced to a 16-6 lead.

Hawai'i led by as many as 16 in the first half before settling for a 37-29 lead at intermission. By halftime, Kuebler had 14 points, Carl English had 13, and 10 of UH's 13 baskets came off assists.

"Carl was hitting his shots and Kuebler was involved," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "It was the way we wanted (the offense) to run."

Led by Kuebler, four Hawai'i players finished in double-figure points. The others were English (16), Phil Martin (13) and Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan (10).

"The plan was to blow out (UTEP) so we could get (Takaki and Holliday) in for about five minutes," Akpan said. "It didn't work out that way, but we tried."

Perhaps because of that, the second half provided its share of sloppy moments for the 'Bows. UTEP got as close as 53-50 with 9:15 remaining.

"I think they got into wanting to celebrate early and that was scaring me," Wallace said of his team's momentary lapse. "They let (UTEP) get back in it and started showtime too early."

Hawai'i regained control with a 12-3 run that pushed the lead back to 65-53. Low-post starters Martin and Akpan scored all the points during the surge.

"It was a big kick in the butt," Martin said. "We all came together. It was a special night, so we had to hold it down."

Martin continued his efficient offense, connecting on 6 of 8 shots. Over his last eight games, the 6-8 forward is shooting 62.1 percent from the field.

Akpan, starting in place of injured center Haim Shimonovich, also contributed a game-high nine rebounds, although UH was out-rebounded, 35-32.

"Coach Wallace told me if I didn't get a rebound tonight I would have to run 20 sprints," said Akpan, who did not grab a rebound in UH's previous game against Boise State. "I know how hard that is because he made me do it before, so I went after all the rebounds."

Eventually, the 'Bows built the lead to 20 late in the game, clearing the way for the seniors to take the spotlight.

Campbell, the senior captain, left to a rousing ovation before giving way to walk-ons Holliday and Takaki.

In what has become typical Campbell fashion, he finished with four points and 11 assists, which tied his career high.

"It was awesome," he said. "We had a good game, I got to make a lot of passes, which is what I love to do on the court, and my family was here to watch it. The whole thing was special."

Neither Holliday nor Takaki scored, but they both received standing ovations upon entering the game. After the game, all three seniors took one final shot.

Takaki, the 5-4 Mid-Pacific graduate, had the basket lowered to 7 feet, and he leaped over English for a dunk.

It wasn't all fun for the 'Bows, however. Reserve point guard Jason Carter was diagnosed with a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee while making a steal midway through the first half. He did not return to the game, and his status for the WAC Tournament is in question.

English received stitches above his left eye after a collision with a UTEP player late in the game, but it should not affect his status.

UTEP, which had just nine players in uniform, dropped to 5-23 overall and 3-15 in the WAC. The Miners will be the No. 9 (last) seed for the tournament.

John Tofi led the Miners with 20 points, while Giovanni St. Amant added 14.