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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
University of Hawaii forward Gibson Johnson looked to the basket as Southern Miss guard Cortez Edwards followed in the second half.
Hawaii got out to a fast start and cruised to a 60-46 victory over Southern Mississippi in the seventh-place game of the Diamond Head Classic on Sunday.
The Rainbow Warriors snapped a four-game losing streak in improving to 5-7 before a sparse Christmas morning crowd at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Golden Eagles fell to 3-9 with their eighth consecutive loss.
UH got out to a 10-4 lead as Brocke Stepteau hit two 3-point shots in the early going. Southern Miss tied it at 17-all, but Hawaii then went on a 10-1 run and controlled the game the rest of the way.
Jack Purchase led UH with 17 points, including 5-of-10 shooting from 3-point range. Gibson Johnson added 10 points.
Michael Ramey led Southern Miss with 11 points and Eddie Davis added 10.
It was Hawaii’s fourth Christmas Day win in a row, and sixth in the eight-year history of the holiday tournament of which UH is the de facto host.
Go ‘Bows! Mele Kalikimaka!!
ahem…we need to beat a decent team hon….
A win !!! On Christmas Day ! Merry Christmas everyone !