ASSOCIATED PRESS Hawaii's Haim Shimonovich, San Jose State's James Jenkins, Hawaii's Carl English and San Jose State's Brandon Hawkins, left to right, battled for a loose ball during the first half of today's game.

’Bows open WAC
tourney with a win

They beat San Jose State, 71-56,
for a place in the semifinals

Benson mum on NCAA chances

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By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.com

TULSA, Okla. >> Predrag Savovic was back. And he brought along an unexpected sidekick -- a hot-handed Mark Campbell.

Campbell, the seldom-shooting junior point guard, had career highs of 17 points and three 3-pointers, propelling the University of Hawaii basketball team past San Jose State, 71-56, today.

The top-seeded Rainbows (25-5) face the winner of today's quarterfinal game between Southern Methodist and Nevada tomorrow at 2 p.m. Should Hawaii win, it would break the school record for victories, set by the 1989-90 team.

The Rainbows, seeking to repeat as Western Athletic Conference tournament champions, had two other players in double figures. Sophomore Carl English began his run to repeat as tournament MVP with a game-high 21 points and Savovic finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds in the opening quarterfinal game here.

"They were definitely daring me to take it, they wanted to play 4-on-5," said Campbell, who was 7 of 11 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. "Coach (Riley Wallace) had been pushing me to be ready to take shots if I was open. And they were leaving me open."

"Mark's points were probably the difference in the ball game," Wallace said. "There was no way they (San Jose State) could anticipate the way he shot."

Savovic, returning to the lineup for the first time since injuring his back last Thursday, hit two of Hawaii's seven 3-pointers to extend his streak to 32 consecutive games in which he has hit at least one.

"Like Coach says, put the ball in my hands and the pain goes away," said Savovic, who had been slowed by spasms in his lower back. "I wanted to be here with my team. I played through it."

Savovic's first 3-pointer -- and first points -- came with 15:11 left in the first half, giving Hawaii an 11-7 lead. He hit his second 39 seconds later and, combined with a jumper by Campbell, the Rainbows increased the lead to 16-7.

Hawaii led by as many nine in the opening 20 minutes but San Jose State wouldn't go away. The Spartans cut the margin to two twice, the last at 27-25, with 2:35 remaining before halftime. But UH regained control.

English scored 13 first-half points and Hawaii led 32-27 at the break.

Hawaii used an 8-0 blitz in the opening 2:21 of the second half to pull away. Phil Calvert hit a 3-pointer for the Spartans' first points of the half but English hit his second 3-pointer less than a minute later and San Jose State never got closer than 11 the rest of the way.

San Jose State got 17 points from Brandon Hawkins. The Spartans finished the season 10-22.