SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The University of Hawaii men’s basketball team continues to give UC San Diego a hard time in the Tritons’ transition to full Division I basketball.

UH put the defensive clamps on UCSD in winning 65-53 in the Rainbow Warriors’ maiden voyage to RIMAC Arena, making it a home-and-home season sweep after a 23-point rout in Honolulu on Jan. 15.

The Rainbows improved to 13-8 overall, but their Big West record remained at 7-3 because the conference has chosen not to count UCSD’s men’s hoops games in the conference standings until the Tritons complete their full four-year transition from Division II. This is only Year 2.

UH appeared to take the game seriously regardless, jumping out to an early double-digit lead that it kept at halftime, 30-20, and built to 16 with the first six points of the second half. UCSD (11-14) cut the margin in half down the stretch, but it was fended off by timely baskets from the ‘Bows.

Four ‘Bows scored in double figures: Junior Madut had a game-high 16 points; Noel Coleman had his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds; and big men Kamaka Hepa and Bernardo da Silva each compiled 12 points and eight rebounds.

UCSD missed 11 of its first 12 field-goal attempts and was held to 35% shooting on its home floor. Its point total was one point off the UH opponent low for the season. Bryce Pope led the way in defeat with 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting.

Up next is a key matchup at UC Irvine at 11 a.m. (HST) on Saturday, a game being televised on Spectrum SportsNet. The ‘Bows beat the Anteaters 72-56 on Jan. 13, but UCI has won six straight to move a half-game behind third-place UH in the standings at 6-3.

UH did not travel to RIMAC Arena last year as UCSD was to play two back-to-back games in Honolulu during the pandemic-altered season schedule instead of the usual home-and-home between conference foes. However, that trip was canceled and UH and UCSD met for the first time this season.