WAILUKU » An electric atmosphere was the conduit for a huge early-season upset for Hawaii.

A near-sellout crowd of 1,203 put a charge into Maui’s War Memorial Gym as the Rainbow Warriors surged to a shocking 74-70 victory over Pittsburgh of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Friday night.

"It was unbelievable. We came here (three) years ago, and it was good, but tonight it was at another level," coach Benjy Taylor said. "It really helped us, it really fueled us."

UH improved to 4-1 heading into three straight days of games in the Gulf Coast Showcase tournament in Florida, which begins on Monday.

It was effectively a tune-up for Pitt heading into the EA Sports Maui Invitational — also starting Monday — but the Panthers (2-1) got more than they bargained for. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, a former UH assistant, was left wanting in his first meeting against his former school.

"I feel the same as before," said Dixon, who credited UH. "We’ve gotta get better. We’ve gotta do some things different. … We gotta figure it out."

UH shot 52.9 percent for the game and committed a season-low seven turnovers. Pitt shot 43.1 percent.

Five ‘Bows scored in double figures, led by freshman Isaac Fleming’s 15 points and three steals off the bench. Aaron Valdes and Garrett Nevels went 5-for-6 on pressure free throws to close it out.

Pitt (2-1), a team receiving votes in the AP and coaches polls, struggled to shoot over UH’s nearly exclusive zone defense, in both 1-2-2 and 2-3 formations. Taylor said he went zone to protect his big men from foul trouble. It worked, and forward Mike Thomas (5-for-6 shooting) and center Stefan Jovanovic (4-for-5) were huge factors.

Valdes went 4-for-4 at the line in the final 25 seconds, which would have iced it had Pitt’s Chris Jones (19 points) not hit two desperation 3s in a seven-second span.

They were the most pressure-packed of the sophomore’s young career.

"Definitely, especially against a team from the ACC," Valdes said. "But I just walked up and acted like it was just practice."

After a high-arcing 3 by Jones over Valdes in the corner, Pitt had to take one more foul to give itself a chance down three with seven seconds left.

UH’s lone senior, Nevels, put it away by going 1-for-2 at the line. Pitt airballed its final shot.

"We all wanted to play a big-time school, and we were able to get the win," said Nevels, who scored 11 and grabbed nine rebounds. "I mean, nobody expected us to win but us."

Just about every UH player to see minutes performed at a high level.

"I’ve always said this group could do great things if we come together," Taylor said. "That’s what we’re deciding to do."

The game got off to a testy start, with the teams jawing at each other before the national anthem. The starters did not shake hands before tip-off.

"I felt like they were trying to intimidate our guys and … I told our guys that they can do that before the game," said Negus Webster-Chan, who broke out of a shooting slump with 11 points. "But it’s how tough they’re going to come in the game. I felt we came tougher today."

Point guard Roderick Bobbitt missed all three of his free throws, but had seven points, five assists and no turnovers.

Former UH coach Riley Wallace planned to attend the game but missed it because he was hospitalized at a Maui hospital Friday with symptoms of a minor stroke. Dixon said after the game he would check on Wallace.

The former UH coach who did attend? Gib Arnold, who was fired Oct. 28 and replaced by Taylor, his associate head coach.

After trailing by 10 points through eight minutes of play because of a 19-4 Pitt run, UH rallied and claimed a four-point halftime lead. UH shot 56.7 percent and committed just three turnovers in the period.

HAWAII 74, PITTSBURGH 70