RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC Riverside Highlanders and University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors squared off in a battle to rise back into the Big West Conference's upper echelon Thursday night in front of a raucous and energized home crowd and nationally televised game on ESPNU. The contest proved to be a tale of two halves with UC Riverside leading early but trailing at the half 37-23, before recovering from the deep deficit to lead for the final 11 minutes of the game until a follow by Hawaii's Dawson Carper with 27 seconds to play proved to be the final blow in a three-act drama that saw the Highlanders lose, 56-55, at SRC Arena.

"I'm glad we didn't hang our heads and came out in the second half and played the way we're capable of on defense and rebounding the ball better," said head coach David Patrick. "You've got to make plays at the end and until we learn to do that, it's going to be hard. You have to be tough and execute in February if you want to be successful come March."

Sophomore Callum McRae (16 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks) tied it up at 42-42 midway through the second half and scored 12 of UC Riverside's final 17 points in a strong effort after struggling during the first stanza, when he was 1-for-6. Having trailed by as much as 17 themselves, the Highlanders (14-14, 4-8) retook the lead and held Hawaii (15-10, 6-5) scoreless for a six-minute stretch during a 24-2 run following a three-pointer by Khyber Kabellis, who finished with 5, and two free throws by Angus McWilliam (5-for-6, 9 points).

It had figured to be an earnest matchup, with both teams committed to stopping four-game losing streaks and both locked up at 5-5 head-to-head in their last 10 meetings. The first half saw UC Riverside take a 10-2 lead before the Rainbows heated up and the Highlanders cooled off. Hawaii outscored the home team 33-13 over the final 15 minutes of the first half, leading by as much as 16 and taking a 14-point advantage into the break. The Highlanders struggled from the field, shooting 9-for-32 (28 percent), and committed four offensive fouls as they searched for ways to score.

As UC Riverside began to find their form on both ends of the floor, those whistles would come back to haunt the Highlanders in the homestretch after they worked incredibly hard to retake the lead. Playing with four personal fouls, Arinze Chidom (6 points, 2-of-3 FG) defended just a little too aggressively outside the arc and committed his fifth with 4:28 remaining, taking a seat as Eddie Stansberry (5-5 FT, 12 points) made all three free throws to trim UC Riverside's lead to one at 49-48.

McRae scored three more baskets to help keep UC Riverside in front, but a wild finish saw an attempt by Hawaii's Zigmars Raimo rebounded by Carper (8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks), whose put back proved to be the gamewinner after a final attempt by McWilliam and a rebound by Dominick Pickett (12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal) as time expired. 

Hawaii freshman Justin Wesbster led all scorers with a career-high 18-points, all in the first half. The Highlanders, whose defense leads the Big West and ranks 16th in the NCAA in scoring defense entering the game, held the Rainbows to 34 percent shooting (18-for-52).The two teams will meet again Feb. 29 in Manoa.

Next up for UC Riverside is a Saturday trip to San Luis Obispo to play Cal Poly at 7 p.m. The Highlanders return home to the SRC Arena Thursday, Feb. 27, to host UC Santa Barbara at 8 p.m.

NOTES
Thursday's meeting between UC Riverside and Hawaii was the Black History Month Game at SRC Arena.

T-shirts worn by players, spirit squad and fans read, "Every Day is Black History."