Recap: Hawaii vs. Illinois

Honolulu, HI (Sports Network) - D.J. Richardson came up clutch by draining a three-pointer as time expired in overtime to give the Illinois Fighting Illini a 78-77 victory over the Hawaii Warriors in a non-conference thriller at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Richardson had made only 2-of-9 attempts from beyond the arc before the extra session, but he converted 2-of-3, including the game-winner to net 16 points and prevent Illinois (3-0) from suffering its first loss of the season. Brandon Paul scored a game-high 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor. Tracy Abrams got into the mix with 22 points and five steals.

Vander Joaquin paced Hawaii (3-1) by recording a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. Brandon Spearman contributed 20 points, Hauns Brereton scored 10 points, and they grabbed nine rebounds each. Christian Standhardinger finished with 12 points but converted only four of his 15 field goal attempts.

The Warriors built a 15-point lead in the first half after performing very well on both ends of the floor. Hawaii made 48.4 percent of its first half field goals while it limited the Fighting Illini to 29.6 percent shooting from the floor. Illinois went into the intermission trailing, 41-28, after it went 3- of-12 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes of action.

The Fighting Illini put together a rally after the break by hitting 15 of their 31 field goal attempts. Hawaii cooled off to shoot only 30 percent form the floor in the second half. Illinois overcame a 16-point deficit to take a two- point lead in the final minute of regulation. Down by two points with the ball in the final moments of the second half, Joaquin drained a jumper to tie the score at 66 and send the contest into overtime.

Hawaii made three-pointers on three of its first four possessions in the extra period to take a 74-69 lead. Illinois would not go away as Richardson made it a two-point game at the 2:15 mark by hitting a three-pointer. Hawaii held a one- point lead when Jace Tavita was fouled and sent to the foul line for the Warriors with seven seconds left, but he converted just one-of-two during his trip. Richardson then gave the Fighting Illini their first road win of the season with his game-winning triple.

Despite suffering their first loss of the season, the Warriors held a commanding 51-31 advantage in the rebounding battle.