Warriors play without key seniors and lose to LaTech, 74-70
Raheem Appleby scored a game-high 28 points and Cordarius Johnson added 14 points — all in the first half — as Louisiana Tech held off short-handed Hawai’i, 74-70, in Western Athletic Conference action Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Bulldogs improved to 9-10 overall, 1-3 in the WAC. The Warriors fell to 10-8, 2-2.
Hawai’i played without starting point guard Miah Ostrowski (staph infection) and leading scorer Zane Johnson (stomach flu).
Shaquille Stokes’ 3-pointer gave UH a 56-55 lead with 8:29 remaining, but Romario Souza answered with a jump hook 23 seconds later to give LaTech the lead for good. Appleby sank two free throws to make it 69-64 with 1:58 left, but the Warriors closed it to 69-68 on Bobby Miles’ two free throws 57 seconds later.
Appleby then sank a floater in the lane with 52 seconds remaining, and Stokes’ 3-point attempt from the top of the key missed with 31 seconds left. JL Lewis then made a pair of foul shots to make it 73-68 two seconds later. Joston Thomas’ putback closed it to 73-70 with 8 ticks on the clock, and Trevor Wiseman stole the ball from Lewis after the ensuing inbounds pass, but his running 3-point attempt was short and the Bulldogs rebounded with 1.1 seconds left.
Kenyon McNeail then sealed the victory with a free throw.
Thomas led UH with 22 points, Vander Joaquim added 11 points and eight rebounds and Stokes finished with 10 points, five assists and four rebounds.
More details will be posted later, including video highlights and interviews.
(Photo courtesy Brandon Flores)
Bad coaching, and bad play overall, We should have fed Joston over and over again late in the game not take nba range 3’s.
Lets just forget this one happened. Zane and Miah need to get healthy.
AGREE — Bad Thought — THAT was a (potentially a worst case?) preview of Next Year’s Team — Without Miah & Zane … [Of Course, just about every one returning should improve and you add some very talented newcomers …]
This was also the 2-4 early season team extending their futility to 2-5 …
(we’re just lucky we got to enjoy the 8-3 team in between and — hopefully they return in time for Saturday’s Big Game with New Mexico State… They WILL be back eventually — biggest risks are that the stomach flu bug circulates around the team, as well as Miah’s (hopefully speeding up) Staph Recovery …(good prognosis for Zane is possible since Hauns was able to recover to play in a day or two — But Not apparently, His Shot …)
I give Bobby Miles a lot of credit for going on the radio post-game — calm, level-headed — maybe even more so than the distraught, pissed off, upset head coach (who also took full leadership responsibility for poor play & loss) …
This was maybe “The Worst” kind of ‘one-possession’ loss where almost any where in the 40 minute game it felt like Hawai’i should have been able to create separation, even start dominating …
LOWLIGHTS:
– Some of the Poorest Defense in a long time letting the WAC’s worst shooting (FG%) team score above their head on the road with easy lay-ups and put-backs …
– Most of the Game, guards were Not getting the ball inside (where we had physical & talent mismatches, also not shooting well, penetrating or dishing)…
– Joston still got 20 (22) but seemed to have to fight his own teammates to get the ball in position; Vander wasn’t thinking right to get two of his five fouls chasing a guard and on a fast-break charge — he needs to be in the game in crunch time as he did in the previous 11 (better) games …
– Seemed like no one else stepped up to take charge or make (good) things happen — Shaq: Got to cut All Those Unnecessary Turnovers …Hauns you got to be ready to take the shots — with the game on the line and a short clock you can’t be passing off and passing up so much …
[Don’t Blame All you guys who rather not blog when pissed …]
A POSITIVE: The Wahine beat LA Tech …
[Potential — The men Will Face LA Tech again with a Chance for Redemption, …Maybe Twice if in Tourney… Tickets Now Available — Call UH Ticket Office for the 3/7-10 Games @ The Orleans in Vegas ]
it just showed how skilled and athletic we are
Eagle-there was nothing wrong with Hauns shot. he wasn’t the one throwin airballs, or takin stupid shots
***** “ i’m actually “calling out” Hauns to Take MORE shots And (If Coach allows, and i think he does) to put ’em up even faster especially with the game on the line — he passed on a couple of shot opportunities then someone else (good guts but not hitting) took a tougher shot and didn’t make ’em — too many guys are hesitating (probably to run through the offensive sets and push the ball inside) but the first two triggers when we need threes or mid-range points need to be Zane And Hauns (until others show/prove their prowess) …
……,
Why so defensive? Eagle mentioned nothing about a problem with Hauns shot, only that he needs to be ready to let it fly. Confidence is one of the key attributes to great shooters, always thinking it’s going in..hesitation can really mess with mechanics and rhythm. On a side note.. it’s really obvious when his friends/family post about Hauns.. they seem to be very subjective and defensive opinions.