IRVINE, Calif. – Chris McNealy came off the bench to score 15 points and hit three 3-pointers to lead UC Irvine to a 68-64 victory against Hawaii on Wednesday night.
Will Davis II added 13 points and Daman Starring 12 for the Anteaters (8-9, 2-2 Big West), who used an 11-1 run to pull away late. Adam Folker had 12 rebounds.
Vander Joaquim had 15 points and Christian Standhardinger and Brandon Sprearman 12 each for the Rainbow Warriors (9-6, 3-1), who played their first Big West road game. Standhardinger had 13 rebounds.
Isaac Fotu's layup gave Hawaii a 57-56 lead with 4:53 remaining. But the Warriors went without a point for the next 3:39, as Starring scored six points to ignite UC Irvine's late charge.
Hawaii missed five straight shots, and Starring's two free throws gave the Anteaters a 67-58 cushion with 57 seconds to play.
McNealy had six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
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