Hawai`i, UH-Hilo Finalizing Agreement For Men’s Hoops Game

The University of Hawai`i at Hilo is close to finalizing a deal to play a regular season men’s basketball game against the University of Hawai`i at Manoa in November.

Hawai`i announced the game, slated for Thurs., Nov. 21, at the Stan Sheriff Center on the Manoa campus, as part of a schedule release late Tuesday morning. The UH-Hilo contest is part of a 14-game non-conference schedule that begins Nov. 8.

A UH spokesman told Big Island Now that the final details are being worked out between both sides. UH-Hilo declined comment until a contract is finalized.

In a statement, Hawai`i coach Gib Arnold said that his team is “excited to be playing UH-Hilo again this season. We played them two years ago on the Big Island and it was an extremely competitive game. It shouldn’t be any different this year.”

Hawai`i defeated the Vulcans 79-66 on Dec. 16, 2011 in the last regular season game scheduled between the sister schools. The contest was played at Kealakehe High School’s Waverider Gymnasium and was hosted by UHH. The Rainbow Warriors are 5-0 all time against UH-Hilo.

If the deal is finalized, it will mean that the Vulcans would play two games in two nights on two different islands. UH-Hilo is scheduled to play Western State on Wed., Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at its home gymnasium.

The Vulcans, under new coach GE Coleman, open their season at Chaminade’s McCabe Gymnasium on November 8 in the PacWest / GNAC Challenge, featuring the Silverswords, St. Martin’s University, and Western Oregon.