UPDATED: Warriors run past Privateers, 91-58
Feasting on an up-tempo opponent and a cornucopia of fast-break opportunities, the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team pulled away from visiting New Orleans, 91-58, in non-conference action Thanksgiving Eve at the Stan Sheriff Center.
A highly entertained crowd of 5,078 whetted its appetite by watching Brandon Spearman score 16 points and grab five rebounds, Christian Standhardinger add 13 points, 14 boards and four assists, and Keith Shamburger finish with 11 points and six assists as the Warriors improved to 4-2. The Privateers fell to 1-3.
“Another great effort by this team,” UH coach Gib Arnold said. “I really liked defensively, how we got after them, I thought the tempo was in our favor and we were able to get them a little out of sync.”
New Orleans started the game strong and looked much-improved from the team Hawai’i routed, 84-58, in February 2012. After falling behind 4-0, the Privateers went on a 15-8 run to lead, 15-12, on Isaac Mack’s baseline jumper midway through the first half. But UH freshman Aaron Valdes scored on a putback to start the Warriors on an 18-2 surge capped by Spearman’s 3-pointer from the right wing and leaning bank shot from eight feet out to make it 30-17 with four minutes remaining.
“I really felt that (energy),” said Spearman, making his third straight start after missing the first three games due to a sprained ankle. “Coming back from my ankle injury, it’s tough getting back out there on the floor and trying to get it to 100 percent. It’s definitely coming back. At walk-through today, I was getting up and a lot of my teammates and coaches were surprised. It’s progress, it’s just getting better every week. I’m just going to let the game come to me and shoot with confidence.”
New Orleans closed it to 33-26 on two free throws by Teris Bourgeois with 1:29 left, but Dyrbe Enos answered with a 3-pointer from the left wing and Spearman followed with another three to put Hawai’i ahead, 39-26, at halftime.
The Warriors held the Privateers to 25.8 percent shooting (8 of 31) from the field, including 2 for 11 from 3-point range, in the first half. They also out-rebounded New Orleans, 28-16 and had six blocked shots to none for the Privateers. UH shot 41.7 percent (5 for 12) from beyond the arc in the first half and scored off nine assists.
Hawai’i got 14 points off the bench in the first 20 minutes, including six by Enos on two 3-pointers and five from Quincy Smith. Enos’ first 3-pointer, with 7:52 remaining in the first half, gave the Warriors the lead for good at 18-17.
“We had a 12-0 run, most of it with our bench in there,” Arnold said. “Our bench has been beating our starters in practice, they had a great week. I almost thought abut starting them — not because the starters were doing bad, but because the bench was playing so well and I thought they earned it. I don’t see us as a bench team or a team with starters anyway; I like this team because 1 through 17, it’s the deepest one we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
UH began the second half with a 5-0 run and then went on a 17-0 tear shortly afterward to stretch the lead to 61-31 after Valdes’ spectacular alley-oop slam dunk off Smith’s lob with 11:30 remaining in the game.
“We had the first five stops, and we just went on from there,” Spearman said. “We just didn’t let them score, it was just all defense in the second half.”
New Orleans could not get closer than 28 points the rest of the way, even with Hawai’i’s starters exiting the game for good with 6:14 left..
Smith finished with 10 points and four assists, and Enos — a walk-on redshirt freshman from the Kamehameha Schools — contributed nine points and one steal for the second straight game.
“I figured (I’d) just give it all I’ve got, don’t hold nothing back, just play,” said Enos, a 5-foot-9 guard from ‘Aiea. “Yeah I’m a local boy, but I feel we all can play.”
Spearman said he is not surprised by Enos working his way into a rotation that includes several talented transfer guards.
“I’m not surprised at all, he worked hard every day, he put the hours in at the gym,” Spearman said. “It shows you Dyrbe plays hard and put in the time, so it was bound to happen one day.”
The Warriors also out-rebounded the Privateers 91 to 58.
“We contested a lot of shots, and I think the key stats of this game are the 23 offensive rebounds and we out-rebounded them by 30,” Arnold said. “That’s a big part of what we do.”
UH returns to action Friday with a 7:30 p.m. home game vs. Montana.
Game 7 Tipoff Notes
Who: Hawai’i (3-2, 0-0 Big West) vs. Montana (1-2, 0-0 Big Sky)
When: Friday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu, HI
Television: Live on OCSports – Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD).
Streaming Video: BigWest.tv
Radio: Live on ESPN 1420 AM. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona and KTOH on Kaua’i.
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Promotions: Hawaiian Airlines is the sponsor and will distribute 500 Hawaiian Airlines calendars.
Ticket Information: $26 (lower); $18 (upper-adult); $16 (upper-sr. citizen); $5 (upper-youth, ages 4-HS); UH Manoa students free with validated ID. Parking $6. Fans with a men’s ticket will be admitted free to the preceding women’s basketball tournament games.
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Have the Healthiest, Safest & Happiest of Seasons…
Maybe even an NIT or NCAA Capped One
Like Thanksgiving and Christmas in March
Hey Eagle,
agreed, we are thankful to be alive and have measure of best of health, every single day. What a gift, the gift of Life!
I, really appreciate what Gib, Brandyn, Fish, Benjy, Chris, have done to get this year’s team going, they are in great condition, as all fans, we don’t like to see injuries, however, wish that Fotu, Spearman, Smith, Jawato, as well as rehabbing Dressler, are well.
Thanks to the Ohana, or families of these Seventeen guys. Movement, of players, every spring, I think that is a given in today’s college NCAA MBB, however this group, is really united, and you can tell.
Hope the best for UH against Montana, that is going to be a huge test. BWC, Cal Poly , Cal Davis, type team, or Western Michigan type, which will test UH in half court.
This team is making a lot of us fans, new and old Believers, they work hard, even guys off the bench the 11, 12, 13 and 14, just as important, Would not doubt, Eagle , if one of those guys, albeit, Harper, Hackman, Jawato, Enos, Jovanovich, might be in a game to help UH win a Championship. UH MBB is just getting started, still have improvements to make, however, very exciting team, averaging a top 20 rated 89 pts a game, incredible, sort of like the Fab Five, who averaged close to 90 a game, back in the day!
Uhfanzonly1.
Mahalo to Dayton, the Schmidts, Ameriprise, public and private donors, as well as Wes Nakama, and all support staff for Warrior Insider. The SA, has their guy, writeups, blogs, etc,, the online Forum, the more intense ones, have their say, ….However, Dayton, a Labor of Love of UH MBB hoops, sorry, women’s team, maybe another, media type will start an online WBB insider forum, however, UH MBB still is the engine that drives interest in all BB programs throughout the state, from Biddy Basketball, YMCA, park, under 6 feet league, businessman league, as well as frosh through senior HS BB.
From the Nash days till the Gib Arnold Era, lot of great teams. Now, in 2013, THIS TEAM, can be good, as Eagle says, goal, Ultimate=NCAA, UH wins regular season title=auto invite to NIT. ..so UH has Two championships to play for, to get to Post Season, win regular season, or BWC tournament, and of course, if get into those two tourneys, could get hot and go all the way, or at least win several games in.
stil very young season…as UHF says.
My take, these next 3 games, Montana, N. Arizona on the road, and a nothing to lose, shoot the 3 ball, Chaminade team on Kauai, Hey Eagle,…I wish that OC Sports would televise that game, it generates interest state wide, and is a great spotlight on team.
Go Bows. Yes, thanks to families of all of the guys. Really great to have such hard working in class and on court student athletes!
Go Bows, Rainbows, Warriors!
😀
Mahalo Dayton, and all the great , and positive, and constructive forum contributors, this is a Fan and Family, and Potential recruit, forum blog site!
Echo thoughts of eagle, Uhfanzonly1 and playhoopsa. And Thanks to Warrior Insider, great job!
Been following, and having played BB long time ago. I am impressed with the way, UH with Smith or Shamburger, running the point, really take care of ball, and not try to force passes in, they are patient in half court sets, wait, until their guys are open, or get it to them with great touch on the ball in transition. Same with, Christian, that guy is a Basketball Player to the max…able to rebound, run the break , and make great passes. The 22 turnovers, it happens, because, UH was going up against quicker athletic team, however, UH rebounding , huge advantage and shutdown D, blew game wide open.
Still fans , check this out: UH according to UH site, is sill averaging about 12.8 turnovers a game, for a team that gets up and down for 6 games, now, that is a great number. Now, Fotu and Standhardinger, Valdes, have to start hitting a couple of threes each game. UH on offense, against just about any team here at Stan Sheriff Center, UH can win. On the road, different, however, their Defense and rebounding, as well as shooting well from Free Throw Line will win games for them, with outstanding guard and Team help Defense.
I watch, team at Stan Sheriff, whenever schedule permits, about the same 3800 -4000 come out, great group..Wish when DHC and BWC comes around, at least 5000+ will be there, This is a FUN team, and exciting team to watch fans!
One more thing. Garret Nevels, Shamburger , Smith, Healthy Spearman, and steady three ball combo Enos, making for a great 5 guard rotation, They take care of the ball.
Nevels, I checked UH site again, over 6 games, and averaging 29.5 minutes per game, the young guy, is averagin .5 turnovers a game, half a turnover, less than 1 per game, great job, how he takes care of ball. Also noticed, he waits until sets run, he is not just jacking three pointers, unless, UH needs his scoring. I think soon, Gib will tell Nevels, Smith, Speaman, Enos, Shamburger, if you are open, or within your range, take the three point shot, including, Fotu and Standhardinger, Thomas and Valdes, UH will need the ability to knock down threes in Big West play and against superior size athetic teams. UH is , and will get better. 10-20 three pointers for 50% last night is great!
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Big game on Friday. Go Bows!
Fotu, you need to bring it each night you take the floor, you have been MIA the past couple games, you are the enforcer ,the Dominator, come Friday nite ,you need to show up and do the double double you are capable of, Protect the House Warriors, you need to send Montana back with a loss ,this is a Revenge came . Fotu you are the man to lead us to the Big West Title , bring your A game back tomorrow nite!! Warrior time baby!!
JJAY: Yes, Agreed, Fotu, have to step up on O and D, also, he and Christian have to hit at least 2 threes per game to stretch defense, open up lanes to hoop.
Only question jjay? Fotu, hurt hand, and having it xrayed! Hope he doesn’t have broken or fractured fingers, it is his shooting hand, although he can go leftie too. I know they can splint it up, or even have soft cast over two, fingers.
For All UH fans, Hope that Fotu’s Xray, proves negative, just bruised, or strained, jammed fingers!
Get well Isaac, we need you, jjay, this team is proving to be pretty deep, Rozitis ,Valdes, Thomas, and even Spearman can take up the slack, along with better 3 ball shooting from the guards. BWC time, hope all the guys are healed up!
Go Bows!
😀
We go to every game, die hard Warriors, when the team loses I get pissed ,just like Gib .but we love the team ,love our school ,all the way , win or lose, support Gib and his Warrior team, this is our year ,we got the horses to go all the way, Long Beach , Irvine , watch out ,we are coming.!
Get a TOUGH WIN Tonight, ʻBows!
Fotu and Company brought the shut-down Double-D on UNO’s TopTwo scorers —
keep shutting down the other teamʻs Aces and we’ll likely keep winning…
Especially as Our Players also learn to hunt for their own shots …
When Fotu looks to D, score, rebound and block
As they become second nature, this teamʻs base strength and skills keep elevating
Tonight AV/MT, Spearman & Co.ʻs task is to shutdown Montanaʻs Big Sky MVP 6-5 Kareem Jamar who Triple-Doubled Hawaiʻi in Missoula to spark the E-O-Season 2012 Free-Fall
No Turkey Tryptophan Induced Sleeping On the Three Line Defense tonight, either
Montana hits 41.7% from Three and
Is Number One in Field Goal Effectiveness @ 62.5%
BUT Minus 12.2 on Rebouding
IF you don’t Miss, don’t need boards…
No Panic …
Those are Pomeroy EFFECTIVENESS Numbers, meaning:
They Score from Three on 41.7% of their possessions (Yes, yikes)
Hitting 39.7% of their three attempts (where Hawaiʻi hits 34.5% and gives up 26.9%)
They run their offense to score (Effectively) 62,5% of the time, hitting 50% of their field goals
Need to continue Minimizing Turnovers, Maximize Rebounds, Tough D 40 minutes
So Respect Everyone, Fear No One
Find the Ways
WIN
Platoon system is right around the corner. If your bench can at times beat the starters it says something about the depth of this team. Low turnovers are due mostly to patience—waiting until safe to pass. Good free throw percentage, low turnovers, good depth, improved shooting—so many signs that this team is one to be reckoned with down the road.