The University of Hawai’i men's basketball team improved to 2-0 this season with a 73-65 victory over McNeese State today.

A crowd of 2,953 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Warriors improve to 2-0 for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

The ‘Bows led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but had to hold off a late rally by the Cowboys to preserve the win.

It was the second day of the three-day 46th annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic.

Hawai’i will play Northern Colorado for the tournament championship on Monday at 11 p.m. The late-night start accommodates ESPN's College Hoops
Tip-Off Marathon.

The tournament follows a round-robin format, but Hawai’i and Northern Colorado are both 2-0.

Dwain Williams scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead four ‘Bows in double-figures. Roderick Flemings added 14 points and 10 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Jeremy Lay scored 11 and Petras Balocka 10.

Williams drained four 3-pointers and scored 16 in the first half, leading the ‘Bows to a 37-30 lead at intermission.

Hawai’i went 7 of 13 from 3-point range in the first half. The most 3s the ‘Bows made in an entire game all of last season was six.

They did not hit any 3s in the second half, and finished 7 of 22 from long range.

The ‘Bows increased their lead to 12 early in the second half and had the lead the rest of the way, but the Cowboys made it exciting down the stretch.

McNeese State got as close as one several times, the last time at 66-65 with 2:34 remaining.

Flemings then hit two tough inside baskets to put the ‘Bows up 70-65 with 1:25 left.

The ‘Bows out-rebounded the Cowboys 37-24. Hawai’i also went 22 of 30 on free throws while the Cowboys did not get any free-throw attempts.

Diego Kapelan led McNeese State (0-2) with 14 points. The Cowboys will play Southern Utah for third place on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

NORTHERN COLORADO 73, SOUTHERN UTAH 51: Will Figures scored 20 points to lead the Bears over the Thunderbirds in yesterday's first game.

Northern Colorado (2-0) took a 40-22 lead at halftime and stayed in control the entire second half.

Figures, a 5-foot-9 senior, shot 8 of 11 from the field, and has 39 points in the Bears' two victories in the tournament so far.

Haunes Brereton added 13 points on perfect shooting < 4 of 4 from the field and 5 of 5 on free throws.

The Bears have won their first two Rainbow Classic games by an average 25.0 points per game.

"One of the things I like about our team is we're deep and we have some balance," Northern Colorado head coach Tad Boyle said. "We had some guys who played well in the first game and didn't play so well this game, but then we had other guys who didn't play well in the first game and came back in this game."

Matt Massey led Southern Utah (0-2) with 17 points and 13 rebounds.