Aaron Valdes scored 15 points and Isaac Fleming 10 as Hawaii held off Nebraska, 66-58, in a quarterfinal game of the Diamond Head Classic Monday night.
The Rainbow Warriors (9-3) captured their second consecutive victory and fifth in their last six games to advance to Saturday’s semifinal round, where they will play No. 11 Wichita State.
Hawaii opened on an 8-0 run, but Nebraska stormed back, tying it at 11 on a 3-pointer by Walter Pitchford, and taking a brief lead on Terran Petteway’s layup. Quincy Smith converted a three-point play to ignite a 6-0 Hawaii run for a 17-13 lead.
The Rainbow Warriors closed out the first half on an 11-4 run to take a 34-23 lead at halftime.
The Cornhuskers’ offensive struggles in the first half were evident by the numbers: 30 percent shooting from the field, 50 percent from the free-throw line and 11 turnovers.
