Warriors rally past UC Irvine, 78-72
The Hawai’i basketball team moved into second place in the Big West Conference with a 78-72 victory over UC Irvine on Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Warriors were down by three at halftime, and rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second half to improve to 15-9 overall with their fifth consecutive victory. Hawai’i is now 9-4 and in second place in the Big West (previous second place Pacific lost on Saturday).
UC Irvine, which beat Hawai’i a month ago in Irvine, Calif., dropped to 12-13 and 6-6.
Christian Standhardinger once again led the Warrior effort, finishing with 20 points and nine rebounds. Vander Joaquim added 15 points and 10 rebounds, Hauns Brereton scored 16 (including 12-for-12 free throw shooting), and Isaac Fotu contributed 11 points and five rebounds.
The Warriors shot 43.8 percent from the field while holding the Anteaters to 42.4 percent. Hawai’i also committed a season-low seven turnovers.
The Warriors led by as many as nine points, 27-18, with 7:18 remaining in the first half, but the Anteaters responded with a 14-2 run to take a 32-29 lead late in the half. Irvine eventually had a 34-31 advantage at intermission.
The Anteaters increased the lead to as many as seven points early in the second half, before the Warriors went on a 14-0 run to regain control at 49-42 with 11:29 remaining. Joaquim (seven) and Standhardinger (five) combined to score 12 of the 14 points during the decisive surge.
The Warriors stayed in front the rest of the way, although they could never quite pull away completely from the feisty Anteaters.
Irvine got as close as 65-61 on a 3-pointer by Daman Starring with 2:51 remaining, but the Warriors responded with a basket by Standhardinger to keep the Anteaters at bay. Hawai’i converted 11 of 12 free throws in the final 3:12 to secure the win.
The Warriors will take to the road again next week, with Big West games at UC Davis on Feb. 14, then at Pacific on Feb. 16.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
Congratulations Warriors – awesome effort.
Excellent, exciting, all-out battle all the way to take care of business.
Better TEAM is the Warriors; MVP this time goes to Jac Tavita!
Man2man works; Defense was impressive!
Jef’s layup turn the tide for the TEAM.
1st 5 win streak in BWC; Anyone knows when was the last time otherwise?
Congrats Vander, for double-double => Player of the Game.
Hawaii Enjoys this revenge!
Is sweeping the next two foes too much to ask the TEAM!?
Awesome game again Warriors!! It’s a good team that works hard together. Einstein said it best. “Not everything that counts is counted and not everything that is counted counts” The team is doing the things it takes and putting it out there. Good Job Warriors!
So glad hauns is back to scoring double figures UH needs him to keep scoring like this to go to the ncaa tourney!
Good win guys! Now, keep on improving, smart, play hard and together. Go get 2 wins on the road!
Congratulations Gib on UH coaching career win number 50!
Awesome win! Nice comeback in true warrior fashion. Great to see Hauns overcome an off shooting night and be perfect in all 12 ft attempts! Next week, vengeance on the one big west team to beat us at home! Keep the streak going guys! Let’s go BOWS!
Nice win! The team is coming together and is finding different ways to pull out victories. This has been a great 5 game win streak. I’m sure the team feels very confident going into the next road trip.
Yay, Hauns!!!
TIme for revenge on Hawkins and UC Davis. Lets make him have an awful shooting game.
well, didnt sit with the student section like i normally do cause i brought family, but the section was pretty full. not like last game, but i would go as far as to say 500. great turnout for a saturday, especially one night after a huge rave downtown.
waiting on Jamie Smith to confirm it. add one because my id never got scanned cause its broke.
WAY TO GO ʻBOWS!
Another Great TEAM WIN!
GOALS This Trip…
EVEN UP With UC-DAVIS…
LOCK OUT PACIFIC, LOCK-UP Second Place in Big West
IF Do That, Might Be Breathing Down The Beachesʻ Back
And Aiming For KING of The Beach (Bigger Version)
Highlights — Congrats on 5-0 Coach Gib!
Appropriate on a 5-0 & Counting Win Streak
Tonight NO POINTS Given Up Off of Turnovers!
The Right Guys Knocking Down Free Throws TO WIN…
Such “Consistent” Improvement is a Hallmark of Good Coaching…
[With Improvement in Overall Game — Just About ALL Phases…
“Maybe” Jace is Even Ready to Take On The Free Throw Party?!]
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The REAL DEAL… per Pitt Coach Jamie Dixon, Isaac Fotu IS the Real Deal
Per his own coaches, he doesnʻt even realize how good he is, yet…
“Heʻs the best freshman in the league;
Heʻs not even looking yet to dominate”…
AND heʻs holding his own; even stat-to-stat versus his own country freshmen…
Steven Adams of Pitt, 7-0, averaging 23+ minutes, 6.5 rebounds and 7.2 points per game; versus
Isaac @ 6-8, 24.9 mpg, 6.8 rpg and 9.9 ppg (10.4 ppg in Conference)
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University of MIAMI still undefeated in ACC (Only Power 6 Conferences Undefeated Team) may climb up into Top 5 Ranking this week with fellow Diamond Head Classic Team Arizona; today romped North Carolina by 20+ after doing similar to then No.1 Duke a few weeks ago…
Heard it Here First ? … With the D-1 Experience, Intensity and Maturity gained this year AND TEAM/System Knowledge, even with Vanderʻs Loss (ADD 6-10ʻs Dressler and Jovanovic); Haunsʻ Loss (ADD 6-5 Leapers Valdes & Thomas) and Jaceʻs Loss (ADD Shamburger+)…
Next Season, “THEY” (Illinois, UNLV. MIAMI, Ole Miss, SDSU, Arizona, etc and the Likes) AINʻT ALL Gonna Get Away from HAWAIʻI Unscathed…