University of Texas Arlington
2-1,0-0UAC
Hawai'i
3-0,0-0Mountain West
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| UT Arlington | 27 | 35 | 62 |
| Hawaii | 27 | 44 | 71 |
11/8/2026 11:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HONOLULU, Hawaii — UT Arlington men's basketball battled Hawai'i throughout Sunday's contest, overcoming an early double-digit deficit and taking a second-half lead before the Rainbow Warriors pulled away for a 71-62 victory at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
UTA falls to 2-1, and Hawai'i improves to 3-0 early. Tristan Hankins led the Mavs with a DI career-high 23 points on 9-for-19 shooting, including 5-of-13 from three.
The Mavericks (2-1) battled back after falling behind by as many as 13 points in the first half, using a 10-0 scoring run to climb back into contention. UTA closed the half with momentum, tying the game at 27-27 on Jerimiyah Smith's 3-pointer with 57 seconds remaining.
UTA carried that energy into the second half, opening with a 6-0 run to take a 33-29 lead. Niko Bundalo and Tristan Hankins scored early baskets before Bundalo added another layup to give the Mavericks their largest lead of the game.
The teams traded baskets throughout the next several minutes, with UTA continuing to challenge the Rainbow Warriors. Trevaun Clark connected from beyond the arc, while Hankins and Mier Panoam provided key offensive contributions as the Mavericks remained within striking distance.
Hankins delivered a standout performance, finishing with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting, including five 3-pointers. The guard provided a consistent scoring presence throughout the contest, knocking down three shots from beyond the arc in the second half.
Panoam added 10 points, four assists and two steals, while Bundalo contributed eight points, nine rebounds and four assists. Teodor Simic finished with seven points and seven rebounds, helping UTA remain competitive on the glass.
The Mavericks continued to fight down the stretch, cutting the Hawai'i lead to single digits with under four minutes remaining. Hankins scored on a driving layup to make it 62-53, but the Rainbow Warriors maintained their advantage at the free-throw line to secure the victory.
UTA finished with 39 rebounds, including 11 offensive boards, and forced 15 turnovers while committing just 10. The Mavericks also received a strong contribution from their bench, outscoring Hawai'i's reserves 16-6.
Despite the loss, UTA demonstrated its ability to overcome adversity, compete on the road and battle against a Hawai'i team that improved to 3-0.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Tristan Hankins: 23 points, five 3-pointers, five rebounds and one steal.
- Mier Panoam: 10 points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals.
- Niko Bundalo: Eight points, nine rebounds and four assists.
- Teodor Simic: Seven points, seven rebounds and five assists.
UTA finishes play in the Outrigger Rainbow Classic against Bethesda (CA) at 8:30 p.m. CT, tomorrow.
FOLLOW THE MAVS
For updates, behind-the-scenes photos, videos, and more engaging and personal content, follow the men's basketball program on X (formerly Twitter) (@UTAMavsMBB), Instagram (@UTAMavsMBB), and Facebook (/UTAMavsMBB)
