Warrior Insider

Even after a Thanksgiving feast on Thursday, the Hawaii basketball team is still hungry for a win on Friday.

The Warriors will host Pacific at the Stan Sheriff Center on Friday, November 25. Hawaii has lost its last two games, including a lackluster 89-72 home loss to Eastern Washington on Tuesday.

The Warriors are 1-2 overall, and have been focusing on better defensive effort in their preparations for Pacific. Hawaii is averaging 70.7 points per game, but allowing 76.3 through its first three games.

Four Hawaii players are averaging double-figure points: Zane Johnson (16.7), Shaquille Stokes (13.7), Trevor Wiseman (11.3) and Vander Joaquim (10.0).

Wiseman and Joaquim are tied for the team lead in rebounding with 9.0 per game each. Bobby Miles leads the team in assists with 4.3 per game.

Pacific is 2-1 overall, although both of its wins have come against NCAA Division II teams (Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State Dominguez Hills). The Tigers’ loss came on the road at Nevada, 78-54.

Markus Duran, a 6-foot junior guard, leads the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game. Khalil Kelley, a 6-8, 225-pound sophomore, is the team’s top post player with averages of 5.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

The Tigers rely on a balanced attack, as Duran is the only player averaging double-figure points. Seven others average between 4.0 and 8.3 points per game.

The game is the first in a rare home-and-home series for non-conference opponents. On Dec. 6, the Warriors will travel to Stockton, Calif., to play at Pacific.

It will be a preview of things to come in the future, as both teams will be in the Big West Conference starting in the 2012-13 season.

Hawaii vs. Pacific

When: Friday, November 25, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Live on Oceanic pay-per-view; free re-broadcast on Saturday, November 26, at 2 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. on OCSports (channel 12).
Radio: Live on ESPN 1420 AM
Tickets: $26 lower level; $16 to $18 for upper level; $5 for students in upper level.

(Photos courtesy Brandon Flores)