By WES NAKAMA
By WES NAKAMA
Stephens Media Hawaii
HONOLULU — The University of Hawaii men’s basketball team will conclude its non-conference schedule Friday against Omaha.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center, and the game will be televised live statewide on OCSports and broadcast live on radio via KHLO in Hilo and KKON in Kona.
The Rainbow Warriors are 10-3 — their best start in nine seasons — and are coming off Monday night’s 77-66 home victory over Norfolk State. UH has won eight of its last nine games, with the only loss coming vs. No. 25-ranked Missouri in Kansas City on Dec. 7.
Four Warriors are averaging in double figure points, including Christian Standhardinger at 18.4 points per game, and point guard Keith Shamburger is practically there at 9.9 ppg while also averaging five assists per outing.
Omaha, formerly known as Nebraska-Omaha, is 10-4 and averaging 84.9 ppg. Three of the Mavericks’ losses were to Iowa, UNLV and Minnesota, and the 10 wins includes an 82-80 victory at Nevada.
“They’re very good,” Hawaii coach Gib Arnold said of Omaha. “Their losses were to high-major teams. It should be a great game — two teams each with 10 wins. There’s not a lot of teams in the nation with 10 wins at this point.”
The Rainbow Warriors open their Big West Conference regular season on Jan. 9 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
WARRIOR VOLLEYBALL IN EXHIBITION: The UH men’s volleyball team will be unveiled Thursday in an exhibition match against Thompson Rivers of Canada. The teams will meet again on Saturday; both matches are set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Thompson Rivers is ranked No. 6 in Canada; Hawaii is ranked No. 13 in the United States.
The Rainbow Warriors open their season on Jan. 9 against Ohio State at the SSC.
RAINBOW WAHINE REST BEFORE BIG WEST: The UH women’s basketball team will continue its hiatus this weekend before opening Big West play on Jan. 8 against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
The Rainbow Wahine went 6-6 in their non-conference schedule and are coming off a pair of road losses at Southern California (66-55) and Grand Canyon (54-51) on Dec. 21 and Dec. 23, respectively.
SWIM TEAM HOSTS PURDUE: The UH men’s and women’s swim teams will host nationally ranked Purdue in a dual meet at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex on Saturday.
Purdue’s men’s team is ranked No. 12 in the nation, while the Boilermaker women are ranked No. 17.
The diving meet begins at 10:30 a.m., with the swimming competition to follow at 12:30 p.m.
Rainbow Warrior diver Amund Gismervik won the 10-meter platform event at the Texas Invitational on Nov. 21, setting a school record with a score of 444.75. Gismervik also finished third in the 3-meter event, setting a school record with a score of 425.50.