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FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Matt Gibson of Hawaii and Lodrick Stewart of USC fought for a loose ball last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

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Rainbow re-re-repeat

Hawaii takes its fourth straight
Rainbow Classic Championship
by beating USC 72-68

USC may have a renowned film school, but the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors have been masters of drama this season.

The Rainbow basketball team pulled out another thriller last night by holding off the Trojans 72-68 to win their fourth consecutive Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic championship before a crowd of 6,724 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

All-Tournament Matt Gibson, Hawaii (MVP) Bobby Nash, Hawaii Gabriel Pruitt, USC Donell Taylor, UAB Jeff Green, Georgetown Caleb Green, Oral Roberts

Both teams used last-second 3-pointers to win their semifinal games Wednesday night, setting the stage for another dramatic finish in the title game.

USC cut an 11-point Hawaii lead to one midway through the second half, but the Rainbows were able to maintain a slim advantage into the final pressure-packed minutes.

Hawaii (8-0) answered every USC push and hit six of eight free throws in the final minute to secure the win and maintain its perfect record.

"I thought that if we battled with them we could win the ballgame," UH coach Riley Wallace said. "Whether we shoot the ball or not we're in every game.

"It's a family affair. You don't go 8-0 and not care for each other and pick each other up."

UH guard Matt Gibson led the Rainbows with 16 points and was named the tournament's most valuable player.

"We fought hard and we won together," Gibson said. "This team is something special."

Bobby Nash, whose buzzer-beater against Oral Roberts on Wednesday sent UH to the championship game, was also named to the all-tournament team after hitting for 14 points last night. Forward Matthew Gipson added 13 points and nine rebounds.

The win gave UH its 10th Classic championship and ended USC's (6-4) four-game winning streak.

UH's win also snapped a 17-game losing streak against the Trojans. The teams had met just once since 1975, with Hawaii's last win coming in 1959.

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FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Hawaii's Julian Sensley passed after his path to the basket was blocked by USC's Rory O'Neil.

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The Rainbows' post players struggled to hold their ground against USC's beefy forward duo of Gregg Guenther (6-foot-8, 245 pounds) and Jeff McMillan (6-8, 260).

Guenther, once a tight end on the Trojans football team, was 5-for-7 in the first half, powered his way to a game-high 19 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

"Gregg Guenther was phenomenal the whole trip -- he should have been on the all-tournament team," USC coach Jim Saia said. "The kids played their butts off. ... We just couldn't get over the hump."

McMillan, the Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year last season, finished with 13 points and six rebounds.

"I've never played against guys that strong," Gipson said. "You just have to be a fly on an elephant's butt. You just have to play hard every possession and luckily we pulled it out."

Both teams made 14 of 27 shots from the field in the first half. But UH took a 36-28 lead into the break by hitting six of 10 free throws, while USC missed all seven of its attempts.

After USC took a one-point lead on a steal and layup by Gabriel Pruitt, Gibson scored six straight points and Nash hit a jumper to put UH up 32-24 late in the first half.

The Rainbows pulled ahead by 11 early in the second half, but USC turned up the pressure on defense and went on a 12-2 run to get back within a point. A pair of USC steals led to two layups and a 3-pointer for Lodrick Stewart. A free throw by Derrick Craven cut the UH lead to 45-44 with 13:07 left.

UH held off the Trojans and went up 62-58 on two free throws by Gipson. A free throw by McMillan and a layup by Pruitt again brought USC to within a point.

Gipson then scored on a spin move in the post and Julian Sensley finished a fast break with a dunk to put UH up 65-61 with 55.6 seconds left.

After two Gibson free throws gave UH a 71-65 advantage, Stewart drained a 3-pointer from the right wing to cut the lead to three with 11.8 seconds left. But a free throw by Jeff Blackett provided the final margin for UH.

Third Place

UAB 84, Oral Roberts 77: Ronell Taylor hit for 18 points as the Blazers overcame another big performance by ORU forward Caleb Green to finish third in the tournament.

Both teams looked sluggish early as they shook off the effects of heart-breaking, semifinal losses on Wednesday. But they heated up in the second half and UAB was able to hold off a Golden Eagles rally in the final minute.

Marques Lewis added 13 points for UAB (7-3), while Donell Taylor and Demario Eddins scored 10 each.

Green scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The Golden Eagles sophomore averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds in three games this week.

Forward Larry Owens came off the bench to post 13 points and 15 rebounds for ORU (8-2). Guard Ken Tutt contributed 16 points, while Luke Spencer-Gardner hit four 3-pointers and finished with 15 points.

Fifth Place

Georgetown 75, Clemson 60: The Hoyas made 16 of 20 shots from the field in the second half to pull away from the Tigers and claim the tournament's consolation title.

Brandon Bowman led four Georgetown players in double figures with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jeff Green finished with 15 points and 10 boards.

Georgetown (6-3) took just six shots outside the key after halftime and connected on three 3-pointers.

Clemson center Sharrod Ford led the Tigers (8-3) with 21 points and eight rebounds.

Seventh Place

Long Beach State 38, Indiana State 37: Shawn Hawkins' game-winning shot with 3 seconds left provided an exciting finish to an otherwise forgettable game.

The teams' point totals both fell short of the previous tournament record low of 41 set by Hawaii in 1965. LBSU's 15 second-half points was also a Rainbow Classic record for fewest scored.

The 49ers (2-7) and Sycamores (5-6) combined for more turnovers (34) than field goals made (31).

Rainbow Classic's 2005 field announced: The 42nd annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic will be held the week before Christmas again next year with teams from the Big 12 and Pac-10 conferences included in the eight-team field.

Joining Hawaii in the tournament to be held Dec. 20-23, 2005 at the Stan Sheriff Center are Iowa State (Big 12), Oregon State (Pac-10), Colorado State (Mountain West), Loyola Marymount (West Coast), South Florida (Conference USA), Western Michigan (Mid-American) and Northwestern State (Southland).

South Florida will be a member of the Big East next season.

Hawaii still has a couple of holes to fill in its nonconference schedule for next season. Headlining the Rainbow Warriors' early-season slate so far will be their season opener against Michigan State and a home-and-away series with UNLV. Saint Louis will visit the Sheriff Center in a return game for UH's road game against the Billikens this season.

UH is also slated to go on the road for another contest as a payback for hosting a game on ESPN Bracket Busters Saturday this season.

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