Warriors heat up in road win at Idaho
The Hawai’i basketball team heated up, indeed, in a 76-70 road victory over Idaho on Saturday night at the Cowan Spectrum in Moscow, Idaho.
The Warriors shot a season-best 56.3 percent from the field as they improved to 12-9 overall and 4-3 in the Western Athletic Conference. Idaho dropped to 11-10 and 4-3. Both teams, and Utah State, are tied for third place in the WAC.
The Warriors got a solid — and balanced — effort from their five starters. Junior center Vander Joaquim led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds. Junior forward Joston Thomas added 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Junior forward Hauns Brereton, making just his fifth start of the season, scored 15 points, including 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range. Senior guard Zane Johnson added 16 points, including 4-of-4 free throw shooting in the closing seconds to help clinch it, and senior point guard Miah Ostrowski finished with five points and three assists.
The game was close throughout, with neither team ever leading by more than seven. Idaho had a 36-35 lead at intermission, but the Warriors took the lead for good at 62-60 on a 3-pointer by Johnson with 8:18 remaining in the second half.
A three-point play by Thomas with 1:37 remaining gave the Warriors a 70-65 advantage. Hawai’i then went 6 for 7 on free throws in the final 40 seconds to preserve the victory.
Djim Bandoumel led Idaho with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting.
The Warriors are scheduled to return to Honolulu on Sunday, and will be at home only for a few days to practice and catch up on class work. Hawaii’s next game will again be on the road – February 4 at San Jose State.
(WarriorInsider.com file photo courtesy Brandon Flores)
You guys are awesome! Great WIN in a tough place. A real gut check, especially down the end.
‘Way to go Warriors!
Terrific win by UH. Joston was a real Warrior tonight!
Happy for Hauns, keep it up kid.
Also Joston and Vander are playing like they want to be first team all wac.
Vander and Joston (with Great Back-Up by Davis, Trevor and Hauns) probably gives Hawai’i The Best Front Line in the WAC … Great to See Both Channeling All That Passion and Fire Smartly Into The Game …Hitting Great Percentages, too …
Hauns Stepping Up, Calling for The Ball, Even Telling Coach Gib NOT to Sub for him (Trevor at the scoring table gave Joston a quick breather instead) then following it up with good D and Key Shots including Three Threes and key offensive rebounds — that Junk is Invaluable — probably cemented his as a PTP’er (Prime Time Player) … THAT Now gives Hawai’i a Legit TWO-Wing Attack with Zane, …
…and Miah starting to keep ’em Honest hitting Threes in Two recent games, with more to come (like his high school days)…
Re-Charge Those Legs for The Third Leg of This Split Road Trip (Now Got a Week instead of Two Days) — and Knock of San Jose…
… and Start The Climb to Catch New Mexico State and start Distancing Above Idaho and Utah State …
Great Win, hang in the Shaq , lots of games left.