Hawai’i rains down from distance in comfortable exhibition win over HPU

HONOLULU – Sweet shooting to a win over the Sharks.

The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team enjoyed themselves in an 89-60 exhibition victory over Hawaii Pacific University on Sunday evening as the Rainbow Warriors connected on 14 3-pointers and saw five of the 10 players that were active finish in double figures in front of 1,500 fans inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Point Loma transfer Jaden Matingou paced the Division I hosts, looking like he was back in the PacWest with a 19-point, three-rebound, three-steal debut against the Sharks. The senior guard drilled two of his three attempts from long range while shooting 7-of-8 overall from the field.

Utah Tech transfer Chance Trujillo put his elite shooting on display with a team-high five made triples, posting 16 points in 28 minutes of work for the Rainbow Warriors.

Hawai’i G Chance Trujillo fires away from 3-point range during a season-opening exhibition against Hawaii Pacific University. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Zack Davidson, Bol Dengdit and Tiger Cuff rounded out the double-digit scorers for Hawai’i, tallying 15, 14 and 12 points apiece. Davidson grabbed a team-best six rebounds in 26 minutes of action while Cuff showed off his talent from range with all four of his makes coming from behind the arc.

Four players did not suit up for the Rainbow Warriors on Sunday, seeing Seattle University transfer Houran Dan, Davidson transfer Manie Joses, Swiss product Aloïs Leyrolles and captain Isaiah Kerr all out for the exhibition. Freshman guard Maïdy Douglas also did not play, though he is expected to redshirt the 2026-27 campaign before suiting up next year for UH.

Hawaii Pacific started out hot, taking a 10-5 lead over Hawai’i after the first four minutes of action. Graduate forward Will Woodward had five of his 10 points on the night in the span, cutting backdoor for the game’s first points before drilling a three to grab the early advantage for the Sharks.

Back-to-back triples from Trujillo and graduate guard Tanner Cuff put the Rainbow Warriors in front by the time the night’s first media timeout hit. The Rainbow Warriors would not relinquish the lead for the rest of the exhibition.

Dengdit scored eight of the next 16 points for UH, but a three from HPU guard Nemanja Sarenac that was sandwiched by a pair finishes by Marino Dubravcic helped keep the Sharks within seven with just over six minutes remaining in the first half.

Hawai’i extended the lead out to 12 by halftime as Davidson and Trujillo took turns tormenting the HPU defense, connecting from all three levels as the offense continued to click for the Rainbow Warriors.

Matingou helped UH hold off an early push from Hawaii Pacific in the second half, scoring the first seven points out of the locker rooms before Trujillo and Tiger Cuff got hot from long range to help extend the lead to 20 for the Rainbow Warriors with just under 14 minutes to play.

The lead grew as large as 31 for Hawai’i in the second half as the hosts continued to push the tempo and tally multiple threes down the stretch. Hawaii Pacific outscored the Rainbow Warriors in the paint and matched the rebounding output of their Division I foes, but 20 turnovers and eight less makes from behind the arc sunk the Sharks in their first game-like action of the 2026-27 campaign.

Sarenac led the way in the loss for HPU, scoring 18 points while drilling six 3-pointers in 30 minutes of action. The third-year wing also collected five rebounds and two steals for the Sharks.

Hawaii Pacific G Nemanja Sarenac fires away on one of his six 3-pointers against the University of Hawai’i. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Northern Iowa transfer Marino Dubravcic, who missed the 2025-26 season for the Panthers with an injury, ended the night with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field in his first game action in over a year.

Bellevue product Will Woodward gave 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds to the Sharks while returning guard Avi Halpert chipped in 10 points and six assists while shooting 50% from the floor.

USC-Beaufort transfer Evan Kilminster struggled to find the touch on his shot as he collected five points in total on the night but showed off strong playmaking chops as he dished out eight assists in 31 minutes of work.

Hawaii Pacific will kick off a loaded non-conference schedule against St. Edwards University (TX) on Friday, October 30 for the Hoops in Hawaii Tip-off Classic, one of three Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) sanctioned events across the country in Division II to open up the 2026-27 basketball season.

The University of Hawai’i will tip-off the season at home on November 2 at 7:00 p.m. HT, playing host to Seattle University inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.