Akira Jacobs scored 20 points grabbed seven rebounds and Gytis Nemeiska added 14 points and nine boards Friday night to help Hawai’i rout visiting Life Pacific, 96-61, in its 2024-25 season opener.
An announced crowd of 4,221 in SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Kody Williams add 14 points, three assists and two rebounds in the first-round victory of the OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic.
Life Pacific, a tiny (500+ students) NAIA college located in San Dimas, Calif. (about 25 miles north of Disneyland) fell to 0-2.
LPU did lead, 10-9 after the game’s first three minutes, but Jacobs drained a 3-pointer with 16:31 remaning in the first half to ignite an 18-2 run capped by Jerome Palm’s layup four minutes later for a 27-12 advantage. The Rainbow Warriors later ended the half with a 12-2 surge to lead 56-29 at the break.
Hawai’i next faces San Jose State (0-2) at 5 p.m. Sunday as the Rainbow Classic moves into its second day. The Spartans lost their opener to Pacifc on Friday, 80-67. Guard Josh Ujude led San Jose State with 15 points and five rebounds, backcourt mate Will McClendon added 14 ppoints and center Robert Vaihola contributed 12 points.
The Spartans