No. 19 UNLV holds off Warriors, 74-69
Anthony Marshall scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Mike Moser added 15 points and 12 boards this afternoon as No. 19-ranked UNLV held off Hawai’i, 74-69, in non-conference men’s basketball action at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Warriors, who had entered the game winning six of their last seven games, fell to 8-6 entering the start of Western Athletic Conference play on Jan. 7 at home against San Jose State. The Running Rebels improved to 15-2.
UNLV had led throughout much of the game and was ahead, 68-59, after Marshall’s jumper with 4:36 remaining. Hawai’i was able to close it to 72-69 after Hauns Brereton’s two free throws with 21.8 seconds left, but Justin Hawkins effectively sealed the game with a layup with 13.2 ticks remaining as Miah Ostrowski’s 3-point attempt at the other end glanced off the rim.
Joston Thomas led Hawai’i with 16 points and 15 rebounds, Vander Joaquim added 15 points and six boards and Zane Johnson finished with 12 points after sitting out most of the final 10 minutes with an apparent rib injury. Joaquim had sat out most of the first half after picking up his third foul just seven minutes into the game.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
Good effort today by the warriors! We look like a very improved team from the beginning of the season. Let’s win that WAC championship now!
UNLV is a Very Good Team … and was a Very Good Mid-Term Exam …
Validated Hawai’i’s Significant Improvement over the Pre-Season …
Similar Continued Improvement would take Hawai’i to the point of being a Tough, Solid Every-Game Challenger by the Time Post-Season comes along …
Start off with San Jose — Hopefully Hawai’i vaults to the Top of the WAC and finds a way to stick around near the top, even when they hit the road …
GREAT Second Half by Vander — No More Fouls called (three questionable fouls, no points @ half, finished with 15 points) and got UNLV into foul trouble …
Hawai’i hung tough, but didn’t have the consistency (yet) to catch and pass UNLV on offense; UNLV is obviously a very steady, capable Team … as Coach Gib pointed out in Post-Game, they did the same thing they did to us to Top-Ranked North Carolina …
IF (as they should) they continue the steady improvement, they ought to catch up to a lot of teams by post-season … and maybe in close contention for a WAC NCAA bid …
Tough loss warriors….Here’s some mid year shotouts…
Josten – coming into what we have always hoped for – Mahalo and keep it up.
Miah – I am a believer and u are our floor general. Making the islands proud! Tell Coach Gib to work on your additional year of eligibility please.
Shaq – hang in there braddah. We know u got skillz and it will come to you. No need keep forcing and making us a believer…we know the future of our team rests on your development in the coming years.
Zane – get better asap as we needed you in the home stretch today and will need you the rest of the way.
Vander – You da man…if it weren’t for foul trouble this would be a different ending to the story today. Control urself…we need you in there.
Hauns – nice to have you finally arriving.
Davis – You showed ur promise in summer and China play….let’s get it going.
Garrett – thanks for the D and sparks.
Trevor – Love the intensity and everything you bring every sec on the floor
Bobby – hang in there…you are solid and we need the trifecta point play all season.
Pii – No Ka Oi
The rest of the crew on the bench – mahaloz for the support
Gib and the staff – thanks for bringing the excitement back to the Stanley. I really believe we have the pieces and teamwork to upset anybody if we put our mind to it and I can’t remember the last time I said that. Great Pre-Wac schedule – We are Ready and we haven’t even peaked yet.
Mahaloz for the entire WI Ohana and Happy New Year…..
Great effort, Vander gotta get rid of that ball quicker ,don’t hold onto the ball Vander ,remember Inside Out , quick , and your guys will be open for shots cause yourre getting double teamed.
Hope Zane is okay, we really need him to play for the wac games at Nevada and Fresno.