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Cal Poly comes back to beat visiting Hawaii

The Hawaii basketball team coughed up a seven-point halftime lead and fell victim to hot-shooting Cal Poly in a 78-64 loss to the Mustangs tonight at Mott Athletics Center, snapping a three-year UH winning streak in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

UH (13-8, 4-4 Big West) got stunned by a 16-2 Mustangs run coming out of the break and could not capitalize on a rare bevy of turnovers for the hosts. The Rainbow Warriors dropped their third straight game, leaving them alone in sixth place.

The Mustangs (8-15, 3-6) sank their first eight 3-point tries and finished 11-for-16 (68.8 percent) from long range. They shot just 3-for-19 there in a 12-point loss in Honolulu last month.

Sheriff Drammeh sank his first four shots from long range but cooled off from there, finishing with 17 points on 6-for-13 shooting. Jack Purchase added 12 points and Drew Buggs 10.

Guard Donovan Fields led Cal Poly with 15 points, going 9-for-9 at the line.

Hawaii committed just eight turnovers to Cal Poly’s 18, but shot only 39.3 percent from the field compared to the hosts’ 48.1. Cal Poly sank 17 of 18 foul shots and won the rebounding battle decisively, 41-24.

UH led 35-28 at halftime but gave up eight straight, allowing Cal Poly’s first lead of the game. Cal Poly committed 12 turnovers in the first period but just six in the second as they rung up a 50-point period.

UH temporarily reclaimed the lead at 50-48 on a Brocke Stepteau 3-pointer and Buggs drove inside for two, capping a 15-4 run. Cal Poly took it back from there, turning back UH inside repeatedly and forcing the Rainbows into tough shots.

Mike Thomas scored a couple of inside baskets to keep his team within eight late but UH got no closer.

The Rainbows resume play at home on Wednesday against UC Riverside.

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