Junior Madut scored 16 points and Noel Coleman contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead the University of Hawaii men’s basketball team to a 65-53 road victory over UC San Diego today in RIMAC Arena in San Diego, Calif.

Despite winning their second straight to improve to 13-8, the Rainbow Warriors dropped from a second-place tie to third place in the Big West. The ’Bows remained at 7-3 in conference because the outcome did not count toward the league standings. UCSD is in the second year of a four-year transition to Division I. Cal State Fullerton defeated UC Santa Barbara tonight to gain sole possession of second place at 8-3.

UH used an aggressive man-to-man defense to control the Tritons and the game. The Tritons missed 12 of their first 13 shots. Entering as one of the league’s most prolific 3-point shooters, the Tritons were 6-for-24 from behind the arc. Jake Killingsworth and Francis Nwaokorie hit 3s in the final minute after the suspense had ended.

The ’Bows play UC Irvine, winner of six in a row, in Saturday’s regionally televised matinee in Orange County.