The eight-team field for the 44th annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic was supposed to be even.

Saint Mary's proved otherwise. The Gaels defeated Ohio, 70-63, in the championship game last night.

A crowd of 980 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Saint Mary's win the Rainbow Classic in its first year in the eight-team tournament.

The Gaels won three games in as many nights to improve to 10-1. Ohio dropped to 8-4.

"I didn't think we fluked our way through it," Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett said. "I thought we outplayed the teams we played."

Patrick Mills, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, scored 23 points and ignited a second half rally that put the Gaels in control.

"He is something special," Bennett said of his freshman point guard.

The Gaels opened the second half with an 11-0 run to turn a 28-25 halftime deficit into a 36-28 lead. Mills sparked the surge with a 3-pointer and a behind-the-back pass to Todd Golden for a layup.

"I guess they were words for us to wake up to," Mills said of Bennett's halftime speech.

The Gaels increased the lead to 55-39 with 8:11 remaining, and the Bobcats never got closer than five the rest of the way.

Jerome Williams led Ohio with 23 points. Leon Williams added 20, and was the leading scorer in the tournament with 67 points.

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 82, EAST TENNESSEE ST. 80, OT

Chris Gradnigo scored 21 points, including 6-of-8 shooting from 3-point range, to lead the Ragin' Cajuns over the Buccaneers for third place.

Randell Daigle added 14 points, including a 3-pointer that gave ULL an 81-77 lead with 19 seconds remaining in overtime.

The Cajuns, who improved to 4-7, went 14 for 27 from 3-point range. Kevin Tiggs led the Bucs (5-7) with 27 points.

TULANE 79, ST. JOHN'S 71

Robinson Louisme and Kevin Sims scored 21 points each to lead the Green Wave over the Red Storm for fifth place.

Louisme shot 8 of 9 from the field, and grabbed eight rebounds for the Green Wave, which improved to 8-4.

Anthony Mason Jr. led St. John's (5-4) with 18 points.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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