Arnold, Hawaii Have Some Fun With Fullerton

Frank Arnold, former assistant to UCLA’s John Wooden and the head coach at BYU for eight years, quit coaching two years ago because he “failed to enjoy life.”

“I was so involved and intent on success that I forgot to enjoy my family and friends,” he said.

A more-relaxed Arnold is back (he even yielded to pressure and wore an aloha shirt instead of the traditional coat and tie), and Friday night, the new University of Hawaii coach got a pleasant reminder of why he couldn’t stay away: Winning is fun.

Hawaii’s shorter-but-quicker front line dominated Cal State Fullerton in the second half as the Rainbows rallied for a 79-76 win before 4,400 fans at the Blaisdell Arena. It was the season opener for both teams.

Kerry Boagni, Fullerton’s 6-8 senior forward who earned his starting spot with his jump shot last season, had a hot hand early, but he made only 4 of 14 second-half shots while finishing with 22 points.

Point guard Kevin Henderson scored 21 points, but he fouled out with 1:34 left, putting a damper on the Titans’ comeback hopes.

Andre Morgan scored 35 points for the Rainbows.