Posted at 9:57 p.m., Saturday, December 23, 2006
Lojeski leads UH to Rainbow Classic crown
Associated Press
Matt Lojeski scored a career-high 33 points, including 15 from 3-pointers, to lead Hawaii to a 76-60 victory over Creighton in the championship game of the Rainbow Classic on Saturday.Three of Lojeski's 3-point shots came during a crucial run where the Rainbow Warriors (8-4) outscored the Bluejays 14-1 and regained the lead. Lojeski made 5 of 6 from 3-point range.
Nate Funk scored 25 for the Bluejays (6-4), who briefly took the lead by putting up eight straight points at the start of the second half. But they gave it up amid Lojeski's shooting barrage.
With the win, Hawaii gained its 11th tournament title and has appeared in the championship game seven of the past eight seasons.
Ahmet Gueye recorded 19 points for Hawaii. Overall, the Rainbow Warriors were highly accurate by making 60 percent of their 3-point attempts.
The Bluejays' Dane Watts scored 12 points and Anthony Tolliver had 11.
Hawaii held a 31-30 lead at the half in a back-and-forth struggle. But once the Rainbow Warriors lost and retook the lead with 14:14 left, they never relinquished it again.
