UPDATED: Warriors are too big, too much for Lumberjacks
Now that was a party.
On “Star Wars Night,” the stars aligned for the Hawai’i basketball team in the form of an 84-50 romp over Northern Arizona on Saturday.
A festive crowd of 6,795 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Warriors snap a two-game losing streak to improve to 16-11 overall. It was a non-conference game as part of the ESPN BracketBusters event, so the Warriors remain tied for third place in the Big West Conference at 9-6.
Northern Arizona, which is tied for fifth place in the Big Sky Conference, dropped to 10-17.
“That was a real fun night,” Hawai’i head coach Gib Arnold said. “That was good basketball – at times, great basketball. And it was a great crowd, and I was really pleased with how the guys played for 40 minutes.”
The Warriors were the life of the party, as the 34-point victory was their largest margin of victory this season. The 50 points scored by the Lumberjacks was also the fewest allowed by Hawai’i this season.
“I think that everybody that played, played well,” Arnold said. “I think we played well on both ends of the floor. Great crowd, great student section, great night. It was just really fun.”
They did it in team fashion, with four players scoring in double-figure points, and all 11 players in uniform contributing at least a point or rebound each.
Junior forward Christian Standhardinger once again led the Hawai’i scoring effort, tallying 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. He also grabbed nine rebounds, as the Warriors dominated the battle of the boards, 47-32.
Senior center Vander Joaquim had 20 points – including 18 in the decisive first half – and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds for his 10th double-double of this season.
“It was big, we needed this win,” Joaquim said. “We came from a tough loss on the road and we needed to win, so it was good.”
Senior wing Hauns Brereton contributed 13 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range. Freshman forward Isaac Fotu, making his first start in a month, added 10 points and five rebounds.
Senior point guard Jace Tavita directed the offense and finished with five points, eight assists and one turnover. The Warriors finished with just nine turnovers – six below their season average.
“I thought this was a big game, just from the standpoint that losing really bothered us,” Tavita said. “Those two losses really bugged us … I think it showed tonight that we wanted to make a statement.”
Junior forward Davis Rozitis scored five points and grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds in 13 key minutes of reserve action.
The Warriors played without starting guard Brandon Spearman (ankle injury) for the first time this season, and Fotu started in his place to give Hawaii a distinct size advantage over the three-guard look of the Lumberjacks.
The Warriors’ starting lineup featured 6-10 Joaquim, 6-8 Fotu, 6-8 Standhardinger, 6-6 Brereton and 6-4 Tavita. The Lumberjacks countered with a lineup that measured 6-8, 6-6, 6-2, 6-0 and 5-11.
“That was a big game for us, just to get going with the change without Brandon Spearman,” Arnold said. “It was big for us to get our rhythm back with a new lineup.”
The change worked wonders from the start, as the Warriors went 8 for 8 from the field to open the game with a 24-10 lead. The opening surge included two 3-pointers by Brereton, and one each from Standhardinger and Joaquim.
Hawai’i eventually took a 49-32 lead at halftime, thanks mostly to 66.7 percent shooting from the field. Joaquim epitomized the half when he grabbed a defensive rebound, then dribbled downcourt and launched a 3-pointer from nearly 30 feet away. The ball went through the net as the horn sounded, setting off a raucous celebration.
“I saw there was like seven seconds on the shot clock, so I just kept dribbling,” Joaquim said. “I saw the last second and I just shot it. It was a crazy shot and I’m just happy it went in.”
The Warriors opened the second half with a 12-3 surge to turn it into a blowout at 61-35. The Lumberjacks never got closer than 22 after that.
Northern Arizona shot just 17.2 percent (5 for 29) from the field in the second half, and finished at 28.1 percent (16 for 57) for the game.
“Hawai’i is so athletic, long and talented,” said Northern Arizona head coach Jack Murphy. “They’re physically imposing. They went with a bigger lineup than normal and that gave us problems. We tried to combat that by going zone and then they started hitting shots. It’s tough to win on the road when the home team shoots like they did.”
After the sizzling start, the Warriors cooled off a bit in the second half, but still finished at 49.2 percent from the field for the game.
The victory came on a night when the Manoa Maniacs student section came out in force to support the Warriors. In keeping with the Star Wars theme, the students waved light sabers while the Lumberjacks were shooting free throws, and Northern Arizona went just 7 for 14 from the line in the second half.
“This is the University of Hawai’i’s team, and the students are what make the University of Hawaii,” Arnold said.
The Warriors will return to Big West action next week, with the final two home games of the regular season. They will host UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, then Cal Poly on Saturday.
(Game photos courtesy Brandon Flores)
Great Efforts…
Thanks, Dayton, Brandon & Co., Sponsors
Great Effort, Students
The Gift and Use of Green (Yoda?) Light Sabres actually looked like it was distracting NAU free throw shooters
and Looked Great on Any Account
Thanks, Jamie, Sponsors, Team & Students
What A Great Gift to the Student Fans … Way Kewl…
THAT Was a Party!
Defense, Energy, Effort
Team Take That as the Established ‘Standard’ (and Still Improve)
And the Team Will Win More than a Few More Games
Go ‘Bows
Win Warriors
Looked like a regular team playing against dwarfs…nuff said..
We are backing you guys MBB team! Keep 100% effort for all 3 games. Take care of the ball. Focus, Defense, Rebound, stay together. Play Big Boy Basketball and Smart Ball. Win the next 3 games and you will have a lot of momentum going to Anaheim for BWC tourney. Going to be a great senior night, make it a winning next two weeks, you can do it! Keep eyes on the BWC crown and keep working it!
Woohoo, Hauns!!!
Great game! Great student section! Awesome energy! This game was a party!
Love the Manoa Maniacs!!! Keep it up. 2 more home games, protect the house Warriors!!!!!
I am going to build a mini grandstand ready for next year, we got a few fans already, and we can be Aotearoa Maniacs!!!!
As jjay says Brandon J. you have to step it up! You got quicks, some hops, get that 3 ball streaky shooting going, this week and on the mainland for Northridge and especially the BWC tournament!
“B” Jawato, taking over for energy guy “B” Spearman, J. take it to the hoop and finish and one, like B. Spearman would do, D up physical, get steals, deflections, use a good BB IQ, learn from B. Spearman!
Brandon Jawato, love your game when the intensity and smarts are going on O and D, very important to replace or help out until Spearman comes back for a Post Season tourney this year or a senior season next, when he heals.
Go 100% Jawato, Jaws, you can do it, the pride of Cali!
That was exactly what the doctor ordered… An easy opponent after a tough road trip and losing Spearman for the season.
Just need to carry the intensity back into the last Big West home stand. UH has the most favorable schedule of the teams fighting for the #2 & #3 spots in the standings, and must finish strong to avoid the #4-8 seeds.
Former UH Athlete:
You know how crazy the Cali Big West Conference is? I thought the old WAC was wacky. Any team that gets hot shooting, 3 ball raining, I think has chance to win tournament, seeds 1 through 8 . Wouldn’t that be something if the 8 see goes to the NCAA’s. March Madness.
Glad, UH is putting forth huge effort, have to maintain, that is the key, this last game, LBSU like, that intensity and shoot/rebound/defend, have to do for 40 minutes last 3 games and on into the BWC tourney, UH has a shot to go dancing too. Or finish with a pretty good record north of 19 wins, possible 2 other post season tournaments. UH has a lot of ball to play, just have to bring it!
no, playhoopsa, it wouldnt be great to see a #8 win, because we’re mathematically unable to drop to #8!
xer 21:
Yes, I know, good thing UH got to 9 wins already, avoid those lower seedings. I was just commenting on BWC type of teams, if they shoot 3 ball well, any of the teams in BWC tournament could win, including Hawaii. Of course we want the Warriors to win and go to the dance!
We hope for a good week against UCSB and senior nite against Poly(that should be a good one!), all 3 remaining BWC games, UH has to go out thinking W, get as many wins as possible for that all important Mo. xer 21, let’s cheer on the guys, they can do it!
Every game upcoming is a total mystery. That’s why they play the games. All the team can do is prepare, practice, and execute the best that they can. I hope the team, after Spearman’s injury, will come together and rally as a group. NAU was not a good team after they lost one of their top guards due to injury. It might have made some difference in the final score. The Big West will have only one team in the Big Dance. I see it as the tournament winner will be wide open right now.
Whoever is hot in the tournament run will take it. There’s no superior team. Teams with deep bench have an advantage too. Hawaii could be sitting pretty if they come out of the first round with a relatively easy win. But if they struggle first game and need to dig deep to win, it will be tough going the other games. If Spearman can play it’s one more outside threat. He may not be able to lock down on defense because of his injury but he can do other things to help the team. I’ll take an 80% Spearman anyday.
Spearman is out. deal with it.