Bring on the Big West.

Hawaii completed the pre-conference portion of its season with a flourish, coming back from nine points down late in the second half to stun Omaha 77-73 on Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

UH (11-3) is off to its best start under fourth-year coach Gib Arnold. It won for the ninth time in 10 games heading into a 16-game Big West schedule that includes four of its first five games on the road.

"This was huge for us," said UH forward Isaac Fotu, who played without a wrapping on his right (shooting) hand for the first time since fracturing it eight games ago against New Orleans. He scored a season-high 26 points, including 22 in the second half.

"Going into conference with a win like this — I think we needed it. I think it was a wake-up call for us. … That prepared us a lot for conference."

Fotu was a perfect 7-for-7 in the paint and 8-for-11 overall, hit 10 of 12 free throws and grabbed eight rebounds. Guard Garrett Nevels added 12 points and iced the game with two free throws with 7.5 seconds left.

UH played from behind most of the way and was repeatedly turned back by the Mavericks (10-5) of the Summit League. The Rainbow Warriors shot season lows from the field (39.7 percent) and 3-point line (2-for-16, 12.5 percent), but still found a way after trailing 65-56 with 7:44 remaining.

Omaha, in its third year of transitioning from NCAA Division II to Division I, played such opponents as Iowa, Minnesota and UNLV tough on the road, and stole a game at Nevada.

The Mavs were poised in the Sheriff nearly the whole way, but cracked at the worst possible moment. The game turned on a heated play under Omaha’s basket with 53.1 seconds left. Forward Mike Rostampour was called for a personal foul on UH’s Christian Standhardinger, then a technical foul for tugging on Standhardinger’s jersey.

UH point guard Keith Shamburger made the technical foul shots and Standhardinger went 1-for-2 for a 74-72 lead, UH’s first since 13 minutes remained in the first half.

"I was just glad our guys kept their cool in a physical, emotional game, and they blinked," Arnold said. "That was obviously a huge part of the game."

When asked if the technical was warranted, Omaha coach Derrin Hansen shook his head.

"We have great fight, I like our guys, tough to lose one like that," Hansen said. "We just have to be mature enough to handle it and be able to put it behind us and move on."

With the ‘Bows up for the first time in the period, a suddenly delirious crowd of about 5,000 made itself heard when UH stopped the Mavericks twice on the same possession in the final minute. Shamburger corralled a wild rebound and burst into the open court. He was fouled and made one of two for a three-point lead with 13 seconds left.

UH elected to take a foul with 9.9 seconds left to avoid a Mavericks 3-pointer. Omaha point guard Devin Patterson made the first and missed the second as the crowd roared.

Nevels grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 7.5 seconds left. He sank both to seal the victory.

"We felt good after that win," Shamburger said. "This was a win we had to earn. The last few minutes we had to get stops. It showed we can play defense … we started switching ball screens and that helped a lot the last couple minutes."

Shamburger finished with 10 points, six rebounds and three steals after an 0-for-6 shooting start. His first make was a big 3 at the midpoint of the second half to get UH within four, 58-54. He followed with a steal and two free throws, but the ‘Bows were unable to draw even during that push.

Shamburger, guard Brandon Spearman and Standhardinger combined to shoot 8-for-34 from the field.

"Real pleased with how the guys kept battling," Arnold said. "I don’t think we played bad, I just think we shot it bad. It was one of those nights … not a normal night for those guys. I’m not worried about that. They’re going to knock down plenty."

Fotu’s first missed free throw of the night kept UH behind 69-68. But he fouled out Omaha’s primary big man, John Karhoff (15 points, 6-for-9 shooting), on UH’s next possession, which would prove key late, especially combined with Rostampour’s mistake.

A battle-tested road team that won just 11 games a season ago, Omaha shot 5-for-9 on 3-pointers in the first half in building a four-point halftime lead. But the Mavs went 0-for-9 on 3s after the break.