SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Christian Standhardinger set career highs with 31 points and 16 rebounds, helping Hawaii to a 78-73 victory over UC Santa Barbara on Saturday in the first-ever Big West Conference game between the schools.
Standhardinger was 10 of 15 from the floor and 11 of 17 from the free-throw line for the Rainbow Warriors (11-9, 5-4). Vander Joaquim added 17 points and Hauns Brereton had 16. Isaac Fotu and Brandon Spearman were the only other Hawaii players to score.
Taran Brown scored 15 points to lead the Gauchos (7-12, 3-5), who traded leads with the Rainbow Warriors in the first half but never led after halftime. Hawaii was just 25 of 39 from the line but made enough free throws in the final minutes to secure the win.
The schools had not met since UCSB beat Hawaii to open the 2003-04 season. UCSB still leads the all-time series, 4-3.
