The Hawaii basketball team got off to a shaky start and endured a ragged finish.
In between, the Rainbow Warriors’ hot shooting proved too much for Central Arkansas to overcome in UH’s 83-69 win tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbows shot 55 percent from the field and hit 10 3-pointers to improve to 4-0 before a crowd of 4,499 (5,978 tickets issued) at the Stan Sheriff Center.
UH guard Zane Johnson made four of six shots from 3-point range and finished with 15 points. Forward Bill Amis scored 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting.
Freshman Bo Barnes came off the bench to score 14 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and Joston Thomas finished with 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Hawaii led by as many as 23 in the second half. UCA got back to within nine in the final minute, but the Rainbows held on to remain perfect in Gib Arnold’s first season as head coach.
The Rainbows shot 60 percent from the field, hitting six of 10 3-point attempts, in the first half and led 46-30 at the break.
Hawaii trailed 20-15 when Johnson hit a 3-pointer and Anthony Salter’s errant pass banked into the basket for another 3-pointer to give UH the lead.
The Rainbows held a 25-22 edge before Barnes hit three 3-pointers in an 11-2 run. The UH lead swelled to 42-28 when Thomas drove and dished to Douglas Kurtz for a dunk with 47 seconds left in the half.
Amis made five of six shots and went into halftime with 11 points as all 12 UH players on the active roster saw playing time.
Hawaii opened up a 70-48 cushion on Johnson’s fourth 3-pointer. UCA scored the next nine points to creep to within 11 with 6:10 left.
But Johnson made a fast-break layup while being fouled and completed the three-point play and Amis drained a jumper in the lane to stretch the lead to 75-59.
The Rainbows close their season-opening homestand on Nov. 24 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.