For the University of Hawaii basketball team, good things can happen in 3s.

Eddie Stansberry hit five of his first six 3-point shots of the second half and finished with 19 points in the Rainbow Warriors’ 82-75 victory over UH Hilo before 2,054 in the Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday night.

Stansberry had missed all three of his 3-point attempts in the first half. But after the Vulcans closed to 52-50 early in the second half, Stansberry buried two 3s during an 8-0 run.

The ’Bows connected on eight of their 14 3-point attempts in the second half.

The Vulcans made a late push, closing to 74-69 with 3:23 to play. But Drew Buggs completed a three-point play and Brocke Stepteau swished a 3 to end the dreams.

The ’Bows improved to 5-4, ending a three-game losing streak. This counted as an exhibition game for the Vulcans.

The ’Bows relied on their inside attack to take a 37-31 lead into the intermission. The ’Bows scored 24 points in the paint in the first half.

Zigmars Raimo, the ’Bows’ 6-foot-8 post, powered his way for 13 first-half points, all launched from within 6 feet.

But in the first half, the ’Bows struggled from behind the 3-point arc (three of 13) and from the free-throw line (two of seven).

The Vulcans entered without injured guard Damani Whitlock and Dante Lewis. With 13:42 remaining in the first half, wing player James Griffin appeared to suffer an ankle injury when he stumbled on a drive into the lane. In Hilo’s first six games, Griffin was the leading scorer, averaging 17.3 points per game. On Saturday, Griffin missed his first three shots, including two from 3-point range, while being guarded by Sheriff Drammeh and then Raimo.

Jalen Thompson came off the Hilo bench to score 11 first-half points on 4-for-5 shooting.

UH guard Leland Green was not available because of what was termed a “personal” situation.