The University of North Dakota knows a thing or two about new nicknames. And now, so does the Hawaii basketball team.

The Rainbow Warriors, partially affected by external circumstances, debuted their new “Big Three” in a 12-point win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday. Big men Gibson Johnson, Mike Thomas and Jack Purchase will see if they can replicate their combined 56 points against a Fighting Hawks team that, through one game, boasts the leading scorer in the country.

UH (1-0) and UND (1-0) play at 5 p.m. today for the inside track to the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic title.

“It’s tough to get ready for three games in four days,” said Johnson, who profited from effective interior passing to finish with a line of 19 points (6-for-8 FG), nine rebounds, five assists and no turnovers against the Golden Lions. “You have to focus on what’s in front of you first, then move on to the next. All three teams … we worked on some of their stuff throughout the last week. And so now that we’ve gotten past Arkansas-Pine Bluff, we can focus everything we have on North Dakota.”

The only other time UND visited the Sheriff, a 71-66 UH win on Nov. 20, 2012, the former Fighting Sioux were between official nicknames and, in fact, played without one.

The Fighting Hawks return having worn that moniker for two of their 10 years in Division I. Learn the name — and learn Geno Crandall’s too while you’re at it.

Thanks to Crandall’s insane 37-point second half in an 83-80 win over Troy on Friday, the junior point guard reached 41 and tied the Stan Sheriff Center scoring record. He made his first 13 shots of the period, including seven 3-pointers. He even hit the game-winning free throws with 3.2 seconds left.

The 6-foot-4 Crandall said he’s only caught fire like that in practice.

“I think it’ll be really exciting (against UH) after playing in a quiet gym, as it was,” Crandall mused after his career-best game. “Two road teams, essentially. We’re excited to have some fans, even though they won’t really be going for us, to get some of those younger guys new to the D-I level to see what it’s like for the rest of the year.”

Crandall is coming off a 15.5 ppg season on the Fighting Hawks’ breakthrough 2016-17 NCAA Tournament team. UND (22-10) won the Big Sky tournament, earned a 15 seed and faced 2-seeded Arizona in the Big Dance, losing 100-82.

Brian Jones’ program lost a lot but is not bereft. He has two starters (Crandall and forward Conner Avants) and the top reserve (guard Cortez Seales) back.

UH coach Eran Ganot, meanwhile, has some interesting decisions to make.

Junior guard Sheriff Drammeh was in line for a starting spot for much of the preseason, but missed a week leading into the opener with an illness, leading to Purchase starting at the 3. However, Drammeh participated in practice on Saturday and could play today.

If he does, that puts Ganot in an interesting spot — stick with the Big Three in crunch time, or go back to three guards?

“While I think (the big lineup) … puts some of your best players on the floor, there’s some things we need to work on with that group in terms of handling the press,” Ganot said.

UH did not play extensively with that lineup in the preseason. Court spacing was an issue against the Lions’ full-court pressure when they went on a second-half run to get within three.

Outside shooting, a vital element of UH’s offense, was also poor at 20 percent (4-for-20).

“I expect us to improve,” Ganot said. “If not, we’re in trouble, because you’ve got an NCAA Tournament team, a player of the year candidate (Crandall) at the point, the most important position.”

The teams have a connection — UND’s starting shooting guard Marlon Stewart, a transfer from Creighton, shares his name with UH first-year assistant Marlon Stewart.