Shooting guard Matt Gibson led the 'Bows with 22 points, but it was Hawai'i's size advantage that proved to be the difference.

"We have players for all different situations," Gibson said. "For height, for speed, for any aspect of the game."

Last night, the 'Bows needed their height.

On a night when many of the 'Bows struggled to make shots, every player was able to grab rebounds. Ten players saw action for Hawai'i, and each one grabbed at least one board.

By the end of the game, UH out-rebounded the Delta Devils 48-30.

Chris Botez, UH's new 7-foot center, scored 15 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the way. Julian Sensley, a 6-9 forward and the only returning starter from last season, added 13 points and seven rebounds.

"They killed us on the boards," MVSU head coach Lafayette Stribling said. "They got 27 offensive rebounds and that's what hurts. That means they got 27 extra chances."

MVSU started a 6-8 center and two 6-5 forwards. The 'Bows countered with Botez, Sensley and 6-8 Jeff Blackett. Matthew Gipson, a 6-9 forward, came off the bench to contribute 10 points and six rebounds.

"It doesn't matter if they're short," Botez said. "I'm just going to be me and play my game as a big man."

It was quite a debut for Botez, who scored the first UH basket of the season less than 15 seconds into the game.

"To be in your first (NCAA) Division I game and get a double-double with 16 boards says something for him," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "Let's hope he can remain consistent with that."

The 'Bows needed every rebound, as they shot just 37.3 percent from the field (28 of 75). They were especially inaccurate in the first half, shooting 27.9 percent (12 of 43).

"I think we had some jitters, especially the new guys," Sensley said.

But he added that the basketball was "brand new, out of the package" and didn't feel right.

Center Chris Botez had 15 points and 16 rebounds in his Hawai'i debut, a 71-58 victory over Mississippi Valley State.

Gibson, a 6-5 shooting guard, came off the bench to provide a much-needed spark. He scored 15 in the first half, including 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range.

He scored 11 in the final 8:20 of the first half when UH turned a 15-15 tie into a 31-23 lead at intermission.

"I think of myself as energy," Gibson said. "That's the best thing I can offer."

Hawai'i improved its shooting to 50 percent in the second half, with Botez and Sensley combining to score 20 after halftime.

MVSU stayed in a 2-3 defensive zone throughout the game, and the 'Bows appeared to figure it out in the second half.

"We just had to start hitting shots from the outside," Sensley said. "Once we did that, it opened the inside up."

The 'Bows opened the second half with a 12-1 surge to take control for good at 43-24. The Delta Devils never got closer than 10 after that.

"I think we have the potential to be good if we continue to grow," Wallace said.

Solomon Forbes led MVSU (0-2) with 22 points.

Hawai'i will play another home game Friday against Coastal Carolina.