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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 8:56 p.m., Saturday, December 27, 2008

Rainbow Classic: Colorado State surges past Hawaii 74-58

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team lost its opening game of its own Rainbow Classic for the second consecutive year tonight.

Colorado State used a second-half surge to defeat the Rainbow Warriors, 74-58.

A crowd of 3,958 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Warriors end a six-game home winning streak to drop to 6-4. The Rams ended a six-game losing streak to improve to 4-8.

Hawai'i will play George Washington in a consolation game on Monday at 7:30 p.m. Colorado State will play Vermont in a semifinal game Monday at 11 a.m.

Marcus Walker scored 13 of his 16 points during the second half to lead the Rams. Colorado State trailed by two at intermission.

Roderick Flemings led the 'Bows with 22 points. He was the only Hawai'i player to score in double-digits.

The Rams jumped to a 10-4 lead to start the game, but the 'Bows responded with a 16-4 run to go ahead, 20-14, with 11:47 remaining in the half.

Reserves Lasha Parghalava and Hiram Thompson each hit a 3-pointer during the Hawai'i run.

The game stayed close the rest of the half, and it was tied five different times.

Hawai'i eventually took a 36-34 lead at halftime after Paul Campbell made a layup off a nifty pass from Kareem Nitoto with two seconds remaining.

Flemings had 11 points in the first half, including two highlight reel dunks off assists from Nitoto.

The Rams took control with an 11-3 run midway through the second half that gave them a 56-46 lead with 7:49 remaining.

Hawai'i never got within single-digits of the lead in the final six minutes.

Last year, the ¹Bows lost all three of their games in the Rainbow Classic.

The Rainbow Classic will continue on Sunday with two more first-round games. Buffalo will play Pepperdine at 5 p.m., followed by Colorado against Coppin State around 7:30.