HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University gave the University of Hawai'i all it wanted, but the Division I Rainbow Warriors chalked up a 58-41 win at the Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday evening.
 
The Sharks, who hadn't played a game in 17 days, remain 2-2 as it was an exhibition contest for HPU. The Rainbow Warriors move to 6-2 on the season with the win.
 
Junior Tavon Tarpley of McLean, Va./Langley, led the Sharks with nine points. Senior Daniel Melifonwu of San Diego/Lincoln added seven points with six rebounds and dominated with five blocked shots. Sophomore Jacob Foy of Newcastle, Australia/St. Francis Xavier also scored seven points. Senior Ronald Blain of McDonough, Ga./Union Grove led the Sharks with eight rebounds.
 
The Warriors got 15 points from Eddie Stansberry, who hit three 3-pointers, and was one of UH players with five rebounds. Drew Buggs collected nine points with five boards and five assists, while Dawson Carper and Samuta Avea each posted eight points.  Zigmars Raimo also had five rebounds.
 
The Sharks shot 30 percent from the field (18-of-60), but only 1-of-16 (six percent) from the 3-point arc. HPU went 4-of-8 (50 percent) from the foul line. UH hit 46 percent (25-of-55) from the floor – 52 percent in the second half – and connected on 7-of-20 shots from the 3-point arc (35 percent). The Warriors were 1-of-5 (20 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
After UH scored the first points of the game, HPU answered with a jumper in the lane by sophomore Foy and turned it into a 9-2 run to take a 9-4 advantage with 11:34 in the first half.
 
The Warriors responded with a 9-0 run to erase the lead as Stansberry hit a 3-pointer for the 13-9 lead with 9:47. The Sharks stayed within four on a Blain jumper in the lane at 6:31 mark in the period. That's when UH held HPU scoreless for the rest of the half, while building a 25-15 lead at halftime.
 
In the second half, the Sharks closed the gap to eight at 27-19 about three-and-a half minutes into the second half. The Rainbow Warriors responded with a Samuta Avea 3-pointer to key a 12-2 run and HPU never got back within 10 points.
 
The Sharks will finally get to play a regular season game in their new home, The Shark Tank, on Friday night as they open PacWest Conference play against Azusa Pacific. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., following the HPU-APU women's game.