Stefan Jankovic scored eight of his 21 points in overtime Saturday, Isaac Fleming finished with a career-high 23 and the University of Hawaii equaled its best start since 2002 with a 86-79 victory against Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, Calif.
The Rainbow Warriors (15-2, 4-0) were 12 of 12 from the free-throw line in OT, including six from Jankovic, winning their sixth game in a row.
Hawaii fell behind by four points with 26 seconds remaining on two free throws buy Lionheart Leslie, but Jankovic’s 3-pointer tied the game with 19 ticks left.
The teams combined for three baskets in OT. Jankovic’s jumper put UH ahead 82-77 with 1:05 remaining, and Sai Tummala and Roderick Bobbitt each made a pair of free throws to extend the lead.
Bobbitt finished with 14 points and six assists. Hawaii was 25 of 29 from the free-throw line.
Khalil Ahmad led the Titans (8-8, 1-2) with 19 points.
Flemming made four 3-pointers and Hawaii won without leading scorer Aaron Valdez, who is nursing an injury.
Wahine falter
Brittany Crain scored 31 points and UC Riverside beat Hawaii for the first time, 77-74 at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine (9-8, 2-2) saw their 16-game home conference win streak snapped despite Destiny King’s career-high 24 points.
UH had won the previous seven meetings with the Highlanders (11-7, 4-0).
UH rebounds
Sinisa Zarkovic cranked 24 kills on .571 hitting as No. 5 Hawaii avenged a loss to Pepperdine a night earlier, beating the Waves 25-22, 16-25, 25-19, 25-13 in Malibu, Calif.
Freshman Stijn van Tilburg notched 15 kills for the Rainbow Warriors (4-1, 1-1 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation).
UH outhit Pepperdine (2-1, 1-1) .417-.269.
