Honolulu, HA (SportsNetwork.com) - Aaron Valdes had 15 points and 10 rebounds as Hawaii held off Nebraska for a 66-58 victory in the first round of the Diamond Head Classic at Stan Sheriff Center on Monday.

Garrett Nevels and Isaac Fleming each scored 10 points and Mike Thomas chipped in nine for Hawaii (8-3), which will face No. 11 Wichita State in the next round.

Terran Petteway finished with 14 points, Benny Parker and Shavon Shields each had 12 and Walter Pitchford supplied 10 points and 10 rebounds for Nebraska (6-4), which has dropped three of its last four games.

Hawaii led 34-23 at halftime, but Nebraska caught fire in the second half after shooting just 30.4 percent over the first 20 minutes.

The Cornhuskers started the second half on a 15-4 run, which was capped by Pitchford's trey for a 38-38 game just over five minutes into the final frame.

Parker's jumper gave Nebraska a brief 43-40 edge moments later, but Hawaii quickly responded with a pair of Valdes dunks.

A pair of Shields free throws tied the game at 53-53 with 3:33 to play, but Nevels and Roderick Bobbitt drained clutch 3-pointers to give Hawaii some breathing room.

Parker's layup with 53 seconds remaining pulled the Cornhuskers within two, but a timely jumper from Negus Webster-Chan made it a two-possession game and Hawaii made free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.