Warriors move to 2-0 with Sunday win
The Hawai’i basketball team relied on a balanced offense and a gritty defense in an 81-54 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on the second night of the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Rainbow Classic on Sunday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Seniors Hauns Brereton and Vander Joaquim scored 15 points each, while Brandon Spearman aded 12 points and Christian Standhardinger scored 11 points. Senior point guard Jace Tavita orchestrated the offense, finishing with eight points, 10 assists and five rebounds.
Brereton also grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Warriors to a 45-38 advantage on the boards. Hawai’i also limited the Golden Lions to a .262 field goal percentage.
The Warriors improved to 2-0 this season, and will face Houston Baptist on Monday for the championship of the Rainbow Classic. Houston Baptist is also 2-0 in the Classic. The Monday night game will start at 11 p.m. as part of ESPN’s College Basketball Tip-Off Marathon.
UAPB took an early five-point lead, but the Warriors rallied to take a 33-27 lead by halftime. Brereton scored 10 in the first half, and Tavita added eight points and five assists.
The Warriors opened the second half with a 14-5 surge in the first four minutes after intermission to increase the lead to 47-32 and then pulled away down the stretch. All 12 Warriors in uniform saw action.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
Great team win. Good to see twelve guys get in. One more to go tomorrow for the Rainbow Classic title!
Micheal Harper with a 3!
nice coming off the bench cold, baby
Great game
Good 2nd half strategy to put the game out of reach.
Great job guys!
Keep the metal to the pedal.
All the boys played really well – Jace did a great job at PG – controlled the play well.
Obviously the team practiced hard on breaking the press!!!
Ozi mum – nice game
And that Australian kid popped in a 3 – Yipee!!!
Oh and Brandon Spearman – you were soo cool!!
GO WARRIORS
The team really came together right before the half and pulled away in the 2nd! Great to see Micheal with the 3 (this time with over 2 minutes of play-YAY to Aussie Mom getting excited!!!) It appeared that everyone that played scored, which was a great use of the bench! Nice game Warriors!
Hauns!
I really like the potential of Manroop and Oz.
Roop playing with more confidence, plays fast, keep it up Roop, lift the weights and take your protein supplements and eat buddy eat.
Great game guys….DEFENSE, REBOUNDS…that is the difference! And now….the shooters are starting to get confidence…PG’s Tavita/Clair getting it done…Great Win..As Gib will tell the guys, one game at a time, and keep
on working on weaknesses and playing your strengths…and so far…this team is as advertised…they ARE a TEAM, not One or Two guys..very proud and happy…however you know the Team has bought in to Gib’s
philosophy..work your butts off in pracitice and in game play solid D, and smart on offense..you are gonna play..
Go Rainbow Warrirors…Big game tonite..first Rainbow Classic Title to shoot for in awhile..
And props to Ozi, Harper, Michael, Roop, Fotu “Fro”…hey fans no matter what lies ahead, this team has brought a lot of smiles to a couple of thousand MBB fans here in Hawaii and across the globe..!!
These are a great bunch of High Character, student /athletes..guys on bench including the 3 redshirts, cheering guys on floor …THAT, my friends IS A TEAM, BY THE TEAM AND FOR THE TEAM…wish them great
success,now they can run?..Never saw that in a couple of years..they can get D rebound and they outlet it quick,,I like it Gib..and now you have some depth, 8, 9 maybe 10 ,11, or 12!!
And finally to Aussie Mum, you must have the largest smile on your face, Michael’s deep corner 3 was true!
Warriorinsider Ohana(family) is elated for you and Michael H. !!
This team makes us smile..very, very, very hard , effort players..good bunch of guys..:D!!
Thanks Uhfanzonly1 – I do have a big smile – I can’t seem to stop smiling!!! We are all very fortunate that all WI fans comment/discuss/enthuse etc about the team.
I always enjoy all your observations!!
Although I do get a bit worried when you take sooo long to comment Uhfanzonly1 – lol
GO WARRIORS
Awesome win…so stoked for this team! They all compliment each other well and keep the attack balanced. Definitely staying up tonight to watch the tip-off and compete for the title! Let’s go bows!!