Proof that nothing comes free these days, the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team scored a workmanlike 73-65 victory over McNeese State last night.

A crowd of 2,953 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Warriors improve to 2-0 for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

It was the second day of the three-day Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic. Hawai'i will play Northern Colorado for the tournament championship tonight at 11. The late-night start accommodates ESPN's College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon.

The tournament follows a round-robin format, but Hawai'i and Northern Colorado are both 2-0.

"We want to close it out," said Hawai'i guard Dwain Williams, who scored a game-high 20 points last night. "We don't just want to go 2-0 and then lose in the championship."

The 'Bows needed to fend off a late rally by the feisty Cowboys. Hawai'i led by as many as 12 in the second half, but needed two tough baskets from its go-to player — forward Roderick Flemings — to preserve the win in the closing minutes.

Hawai'i had the lead the entire second half, but McNeese State got as close as one several times, the last at 66-65 with 2:34 remaining.

But on Hawai'i's next two possessions, Flemings scored baskets on similar low-post plays.

"It was coming to me no matter what," Flemings said. "I was getting a little frustrated earlier, so I wanted to make sure I helped the team get this win."

Flemings scored 12 points in the second half, including eight in the final eight minutes, when the Cowboys made it interesting.

"He just overpowered us when they needed him to hit some buckets," McNeese State head coach Dave Simmons said. "Obviously, he was the difference late in the game."

Noting that the 'Bows lost several close games in the closing minutes last season, Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said: "To be able to execute at the end of games, I thought this was a big step forward for this team."

Flemings recorded his second consecutive double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Williams' 20 points included four 3-pointers. He scored 16 in the first half to lift the 'Bows to a 37-30 lead at intermission.

"It was all right; I still missed some shots that I should have made," said Williams, who went 4 of 12 from 3-point range.

The 'Bows made seven 3-pointers, more than they hit in any game all of last season.

Jeremy Lay added two 3s and finished with 11 points off the bench. Petras Balocka contributed 10 points and six rebounds.

Hawai'i out-rebounded the Cowboys, 38-24.

But the most glaring statistic was free throws. The 'Bows went 22 of 30 from the line; McNeese State did not get any free-throw attempts. Hawai'i was called for 11 fouls, while McNeese State was assessed 21.

It was the first time in the 46-year history of the Rainbow Classic — a stretch of 544 games — that a team did not have any free-throw attempts in a game.

"I don't think I've been involved in a game where the other team didn't shoot any free throws," Nash said. "I think the referees called a great game ... I don't think anybody can argue with that."

McNeese State coach Simmons had no argument.

"Our inside game is not present enough to command where we can get to the foul line," he said. "We've got to find a way to get to the line, obviously, as a team. But we do take a lot of jump shots. That's what we're built for, speed and jump shots."

The Cowboys were able to stay close with a variety of scrappy defenses and nine 3-pointers.

Diego Kapelan led them with 14 points, including four 3s. McNeese State, which dropped to 0-2, played without starting point guard C.J. Collins, who has an ankle injury.

Northern Colorado 73, Southern Utah 51: Will Figures scored 20 points to lead the Bears over the Thunderbirds.

Northern Colorado is in its third year as an NCAA Division I program, and tonight will be its first ESPN game.

"This is a huge thing for our program and our town, regardless of the time," head coach Tad Boyle said. "It's not ideal. I've never had to put 'nap' on our pregame itinerary, but we feel it's worth it."