The University of Hawaii kept alive its faint hopes for a postseason bid Saturday night with a 35-23 nonconference football win over hapless Tulane.

With the victory before a sparse Aloha Stadium crowd of 21,542, the Warriors evened their overall record at 6-6 as the Green Wave ended their season at 2-11. If UH head coach Greg McMackin and Co. can secure a win over Brigham Young University this Saturday afternoon, they will live to play in the Hawaii Bowl against a team from Conference USA on Christmas Eve.

If not, McMackin could be sent packing as the Warriors prepare for a 2012 season in the Mountain West Conference. McMackin has one year remaining on his contract, but it would seem unlikely he will be at the helm, despite his guarantee of a $1.1 million payday.

Hawaii has spent the week trying to get out from under a point-shaving allegation that left the program reeling. Despite the police not having enough information to open an investigation, the damage has been done. Hawaii did not cover the spread in last night’s game.

What the Warriors did do was score early and often against a Tulane team that has been pounded repeatedly this year, including a 73-17 drubbing by Conference USA champion Houston a couple of weeks ago.

Under the guidance of sophomore quarterback David Graves, the Warriors built a 21-14 halftime advantage and never looked back. Graves went down with a concussion, but he still completed 21 of 38 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns to freshman wideout Trevor Davis. Graves also ran one in from 15 yards out, before exiting the scene late in the third quarter.

Senior signal-caller Shane Austin led Hawaii on a scoring drive in the fourth that secured the win for the Warriors after Tulane had cut the margin to 28-23. Austin completed nine of 10 passes for 98 yards. He ran a nice option play on fourth and goal from the 1, pitching it to Joey Iosefa at the last second as the burly back walked in for the score.

Much like to start the game, Hawaii scored first in the second half to build on their seven-point advantage at intermission. The Warriors went 66 yards on seven plays, the last one a 12-yard touchdown pass from Graves to Davis. Kenton Chun added the PAT to make it 28-14 Hawaii with 10:03 left in the third.

Tulane scored a safety late in the third on a fumble by Joey Iosefa deep in Hawaii territory that was recovered by Brett Leonard for a 2-yard loss in the end zone as Tulane cut the lead to 28-16 with 49 seconds left in the third. This was Austin’s first series of the game.

The Warriors’ free kick sailed out of bounds, giving the Green Wave excellent field position at the 50. From there, the Green Wave put together a nice 10-play drive, eventually setting up a first and goal at the UH 2. From there, Orleans Darkwa took it in for the score to make it 28-23 Hawaii with 11:42 left in the game as Cairo Santos added the PAT.

Hawaii came right back to extend the margin back to 12 on the option run of 1 yard by Iosefa. Chun added the PAT to make it 35-23 UH with 7:03 left in the game.

With Graves in command, the Warriors took the opening kickoff and went 69 yards on six plays, the last one a 17-yard touchdown pass from Graves to Davis. Chun added the PAT to make it 7-0 Hawaii with 11:40 left in the opening quarter.

Both teams exchanged punts, with Hawaii losing field position with each kick. The Green Wave set up shop on the UH 44 and needed only five plays to score their first touchdown. Running back Albert Williams took it in from 11 yards out and Santos added the PAT to make it 7-7 with 3:42 left in the first.

Hawaii struck quickly to regain the lead, going 76 yards on only three plays. Graves scored from 18 yards out and Chun added the PAT to make it 14-7 Hawaii with 2:29 left in the first. Graves completed a 43-yard pass to Billy Ray Stutzmann to get the drive started.

But Tulane refused to go away, marching 68 yards on 13 plays. Tulane tailback Darkwa took it in from 1 yard out and Santos added the PAT to make it 14-14 with 11:37 left in the second.

Hawaii took the ensuing kickoff and went on a long march of its own, moving 74 yards on 12 plays to regain the lead. Iosefa scored from 1 yard out to make it 21-14 Hawaii with 7 minutes left in the half.

Tulane attempted two field goals in the opening two quarters, but Santos was wide left on one and had the other blocked as time ended in the second quarter. Iosefa rushed for 63 yards to lead the Warriors. Darkwa had 71 yards on 21 carries for the Green Wave. He also rushed for two touchdowns.

Tulane quarterback Ryan Griffin completed 12 of 28 for 102 yards. He was picked off by UH linebacker Aaron Brown. Hawaii had 482 yards of total offense. Tulane managed 287.