Despite another loss on Sunday in Hawaii, dropping the UC Davis men’s basketball team to 1-8 with a matchup against UCLA looming on Saturday, there were a few bright spots for the Aggies on their brief trip to the islands.

In that 74-61 defeat to the Rainbow Warriors, which was a nonconference matchup for the final time as Hawaii will join the Aggies in the Big West starting next season, UCD’s Eddie Miller had his second straight strong performance. The senior, who missed five of the team’s first season games due to injury, had a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds to help the Aggies play quite well for the first 30 minutes of the game.

The Warriors, however, finished the game on a 23-5 run to come from behind and capture the victory at their Stan Sheriff Center. Hawaii, UCD’s second consecutive Western Athletic Conference opponent, improved to 3-4 on the season.

The Aggies were hot from the outside as guard Tyler Les nailed four 3-pointers and Miller — who was coming off of a 22-point game on Dec. 3 against Idaho — had a trio of treys, including one that put UCD ahead 56-51 midway through the second half. That lead came at the end of a 10-2 run that also featured a basket inside from Alex Tiffin and a long-range connection from Adam Malik.

But Hawaii scored the next 14 points behind by Zane Johnson, who scored 19 points to lead the Rainbow Warriors, and Vander Joaquim, who posted a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds.

Despite leading 39-34 at halftime, the Aggies managed just two field goals in the final 10 minutes of the contest.

“I felt like we didn’t play — when we got that lead back in the second half — to win the game,” said UCD’s first-year head coach Jim Les. “We played in a conservative mode. Early in the game, they went to a zone and we pulled them right out of it because the ball moved quickly and we got really good looks. Late they went to it … (and) we didn’t attack it.”

In the opening 20 minutes, Tyler Les had 11 points and Miller added 10 as the two teams stayed within striking distance of each other. The first half featured seven ties and seven lead changes.

Miller’s 3-point play — which came after he was fouled in the air putting back Ryan Howley’s baseline miss — pushed the Aggies in front 10-6 in the early minutes. Howley’s trey three minutes later kept it a four-point lead at 16-12, but Hawaii responded with eight straight points, including back-to-back buckets from Hauns Bretron, to take a 20-16 advantage near the midway point.

A 9-3 Aggie run, capped by Les’ second 3-pointer, tied the game with 4:28 to go in the half.

Howley’s wide-open layup early in the second half, off a pass from Harrison DuPont, put UCD up 41-34, its biggest advantage of the game. But after shooting 45.7 percent in the first half, the Aggies were held to just 25.7 percent after the break.

Other bright spots for UCD included the Aggies committing only 11 turnovers, tying a season low, and Josh Ritchart’s two blocks to highlight a good defensive effort by the sophomore. Les, Tyrell Corbin and Paolo Mancasola each had four assists for the locals.

Now back on the mainland, the Aggies must get set for Saturday’s matchup with UCLA (3-5) at the Honda Center.

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UCD senior Eddie Miller grimaces as he runs downcourt during a recent home game against Idaho. Miller had 22 points in that matchup and scored 16 more against Hawaii on Sunday but the Aggies lost both contests. Wayne Tilcock/Enterprise file photo

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