Hawaii trusted in its frontcourt veterans to deliver a season-opening victory over a familiar foe.

Mike Thomas, Jack Purchase and Gibson Johnson pooled their experience and outmatched Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 56 combined points in UH’s 82-70 win to tip off 2017-18.

Purchase hit Thomas with a no-look pass for a baseline dunk with a minute left to earn his career-best eighth assist in front of a “blackout” crowd of 3,655 on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

“To me, passing is the funnest part of the game. I love getting an assist,” Purchase said. “My dad (Nigel) did, apparently. When he played (in Australia) that was the thing he used to do. It’s in my blood, a little bit.”

Playing as a trio for the first time — Thomas redshirted when Johnson and Purchase debuted in a 14-16 season — they kept the Golden Lions at bay during a sometimes stilted team outing. Thomas and Johnson got to the line repeatedly to score 19 points apiece, and the 6-foot-9 Purchase slid to small forward, where he scored 18. Together, they were enough to overcome the Rainbow Warriors’ shortcomings in 3-point shooting (20 percent), turnovers (15) and defense.

The ’Bows played host to the Golden Lions for the sixth time in eight seasons, and fourth straight year.

Pine Bluff proved a fair first test for a Hawaii program coming off its first losing season in seven years. The Lions’ aggressive 2-3 zone, ball pressure and several deep 3s among their 10 long-range makes kept them in the game.

Hawaii shared it well, however, with Johnson notching a personal-best five assists, as he, Purchase and Thomas combined for 14 of UH’s 20 dimes.

“We’ve gotta defend better at the point of attack,” said UH coach Eran Ganot, who at the same time was pleased with his team’s unselfishness. “Guys were shooting 3s in our face. Defending without fouling, and handling the pressure. Fifteen turnovers is way too many. We were fortunate.

“Needless to say we’ve got work to do and we gotta clean it up quick.”

UH continues the round-robin Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic against North Dakota (1-0) at 5 p.m. Sunday.

In Thomas’ first official action since facing Maryland in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, the senior forward was aggressive and earned 16 foul attempts, sinking 13. But he had to check out with his fourth foul with 15 minutes left.

Pine Bluff, which trailed by 10 at halftime, seized the opportunity to cut a 16-point deficit to 56-53 with 10 minutes left. Purchase ended the spurt with a 3 and newcomer Brandon Thomas followed with his first UH triple to push it back to nine. The Lions didn’t seriously threaten again.

“A run like that happens when you’re not doing your job defensively,” said Johnson, who missed a double-double by a rebound. “So just had to regroup, settle down, get some stops and come out on top.”

Junior guard Sheriff Drammeh, who missed the last week with an illness, was absent from the bench. Purchase got the start in his stead to form a “big three.”

Redshirt freshman Drew Buggs got the nod at point guard in his first career game and fouled out with a point (0-for-5 field goals), three assists and five turnovers. However, he grabbed seven rebounds.

“I like his presence,” Ganot said. “I don’t think he had the game he would like to have, but it’s a necessary step in a journey for him. … I have great confidence in him — we all do.”

Freshman Samuta Avea also made his UH debut, recording four points and three rebounds in 12 minutes.

Guard Martaveous McKnight led the Lions with 25 points.

North Dakota 83, Troy 80

In a matchup of 2017 NCAA Tournament teams, the Fighting Hawks edged the Trojans behind guard Geno Crandall’s electric second half and career-high 41 points. He matched the Stan Sheriff Center individual scoring record of Cal State Fullerton’s Josh Akognon and BYU’s Chase Fischer.

“I had no idea coming in,” Crandall said. “I’ll take it, I’ll lay claim. It’s a nice arena, so maybe my name can live on for a little bit in here.”

Crandall scored 37 points after halftime, including the go-ahead three free throws with 3.2 seconds left to break a tie game. He shot 15-for-19 overall (7-for-8 3FG) and 13-for-15 after the break.