The consolation championship of the Rainbow Classic doesn't come with rings, but the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team can still ring in a Happy New Year thanks to a victory over Pepperdine last night.

The Rainbow Warriors defeated the Waves, 78-70, to win the consolation title of the 45th Annual Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic before a crowd of 2,611 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hawai'i went 2-1 and placed fifth in the eight-team tournament. The 'Bows are 8-4 overall.

"We had hoped to get the regular championship, but I guess we had to settle for the consolation championship," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said.

This is the final year that the Rainbow Classic will have eight teams. Next season, it will downsize to a four-team tournament, and the inaugural Diamond Head Classic will debut with eight teams.

Pepperdine, which is 2-14, has been a slump-buster for several opponents this season, and Hawai'i was no different.

Lasha Parghalava had his best game of the season for the 'Bows, finishing with a game-high 25 points, including five 3-pointers. His shooting sparked rallies in both halves.

"I'm kind of tired, everybody talking about I can't shoot, I can't shoot," Parghalava said. "I know I can shoot, but this is my first year in Division I basketball and I'm still learning."

In his last five games prior to yesterday, Parghalava was 3 of 15 from 3-point range, including 1 of 8 in a loss to Colorado State on the opening night of the Rainbow Classic. His 3-point percentage for the season prior to yesterday was .208.

But he went 7-of- 10 from the field last night, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range.

"Lasha found his shooting touch after a long hiatus, and that was good to get back — to see that he can shoot the basketball," Nash said. "I was beginning to wonder about that."

Hawai'i forward Bill Amis also broke out of a shooting slump, finishing with 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting. He had a total of 17 points in the three games prior to yesterday.

"I've been struggling, putting a lot of pressure on myself," Amis said. "Before tonight's game, I was just trying to relax and just play. It helped me a lot, I guess."

Still, the victory did not come easy.

For one, it came when leading scorer Roderick Flemings had season-lows of three points and two rebounds. Prior to yesterday, he was averaging 19.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

"Rod was struggling tonight, and his teammates stepped up and helped with the victory," Nash said. "Rod made some good decisions with the basketball. He still played the game and was a factor. They had to guard him, they had to be aware of him."

Flemings was still named to the all-tournament team after finishing with 43 points and 18 rebounds in three games.

The youthful Waves stayed near the 'Bows for 35 of the game's 40 minutes.

Pepperdine even went on a 10-0 run early and had a 14-7 lead.

Parghalava led the Hawai'i comeback, scoring eight consecutive points during one stretch to give the 'Bows a 29-27 lead. The Waves eventually took a 39-38 lead at intermission.

The game stayed close until Hawai'i went on an 11-3 run to take a 60-51 lead with 4:56 remaining. Parghalava highlighted the surge by banking in a 3-pointer. Moments later, he drained a 3, got fouled, and made the free throw.

"That's the kind of player I am," he said. "I think I'm an energy guy. I'm just trying to play from the defense to the offense. I guess it was a good day for me."

Parghalava came off the bench in both halves. He scored 11 in the first half and 14 in the second.

"We didn't have an answer for (Parghalava)," Pepperdine head coach Tom Asbury said. "Was he the one that banked in the 3? Then he makes another 3 and we foul him. That's bad luck there. It wasn't as much bad defense as it was bad luck."

The 'Bows used the same starting lineup for the second consecutive game: Hiram Thompson at point guard, Flemings at shooting guard, Adhar Mayen and Amis at forwards and Paul Campbell at center.

Thompson had six points and four assists; Mayen scored seven; Campbell had two points and six rebounds.

Petras Balocka contributed 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench, helping lead the 'Bows to a 37-27 advantage on the boards.

"We were a little ragged at the beginning, but as a team we found a way to win the game, and that's what team is all about," Nash said.

Pepperdine — which starts four freshmen — went 1-2 in the Classic, but had significant leads in both its losses. Lorne Jackson led the Waves with 18 points.

"We were in all three games," Asbury said. "I think we got better ... we grew as a team."

VERMONT 84, COLORADO 59

Mike Trimboli hit 8-of-9 from the field, including all four 3-point attempts, and scored 24 points to lead Vermont (8-4) past Colorado (7-5) for third place.

Marqus Blakely added 16 points and six rebounds for the Catamounts, who led by as many as 28 points late in the game.

Cory Higgins led Colorado with 18 points and five rebounds. He also set a Rainbow Classic record for free-throw accuracy, going 20 for 20 in the three games.

COPPIN STATE 59, GEORGE WASHINGTON 53

Tywain McKee had 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists to help Coppin State (2-10) beat George Washington (6-5) in the seventh-place game.

Damian Hollis and Noel Wilmore each had 14 points for the Colonials.