The ball went up. Moments later, Brandon Spearman went out.

Hawaii ran past Brigham Young-Hawaii 101-85 in a basketball exhibition at the Stan Sheriff Center on Thursday night, but it was the UH senior guard’s freak injury on the opening jump ball that could affect the Rainbow Warriors well beyond their regular-season opener a week from now.

Spearman’s right foot got trapped underneath a Seasiders player while jostling for position around the center circle. He went down awkwardly and called for a sub after trying to walk it off while the crowd of under 2,000 murmured anxiously.

Spearman missed several games late last season with a sprain of his left ankle, but returned for the team’s loss to Air Force in the CIT tournament’s first round. That defeat ended the ‘Bows’ season at 17-15.

UH coach Gib Arnold said it was a high ankle sprain and the tri-captain would receive an MRI today to learn the extent of the damage.

"It’s terrible," Arnold said. "There’s nothing worse than an injury for a competitor. He wanted to be out there, and we need him out there. He’s huge. He’s been playing great.

"We had to adapt to that. We’ll see (today). He’ll be back. It’s just a matter of when."

Other aspects of the tune-up game — which didn’t officially count — went well for the ‘Bows. UH shot 52.1 percent in showcasing an up-and-down style behind several new guards, including San Jose State transfer Keith Shamburger, who had 11 assists against four turnovers.

Senior forward Christian Standhardinger, a returning All-Big West Conference first-team player, led UH with 27 points and six rebounds. Junior guard Garrett Nevels, a transfer from Mt. San Antonio College, added 24 points on 11-for-17 shooting.

Shamburger couldn’t find his shooting touch but had four of UH’s 15 steals, helping negate 19 ‘Bows turnovers.

"This team’s gonna compete. I got no worries about that," Arnold said. "I do feel we have the ability to get a lot better defensively, and as a coach that’s our challenge. I want to make sure this team doesn’t rely on scoring."

UH players were still shaking their heads about their comrade’s injury afterward.

Spearman tried to walk it off for a few moments, then hobbled past the scorer’s table, pounding it in frustration on his way to the locker room. He did not emerge from the tunnel by the UH bench until late in the second half — on crutches.

"Of course it was an initial shock," Standhardinger said. "That’s a nightmare every player goes through. I mean, getting out in the first game, first two seconds, that’s tough. But Aaron Valdes came in and I think he did a heck of a job."

Valdes, a redshirt freshman, had eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

BYUH, the PacWest competitor from the North Shore, didn’t escape unscathed either, as forward Bracken Funk left with a knee injury with six minutes left.

Nevels went on a personal 9-0 run in the first half that helped UH separate and lead by 10 at halftime. BYUH got to within six early in the second half, but no closer.

"I think I played pretty good tonight. I’m just really happy to be here," Nevels said.

Valdes punctuated the victory with a breakaway dunk to get the ‘Bows over the century mark.

Jerome Harris came off the bench to lead BYUH with 15 points.