Warriors edge Saint Mary’s, 76-74
Christian Standhardinger scored a game-high 22 points and swished a 15-foot baseline jumper with 1.4 seconds remaining tonight to lift Hawai’i to a thrilling 76-74 victory over Saint Mary’s in the consolation bracket semifinals of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
A crowd of 6,438 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Isaac Fotu add 13 points, Brandon Spearman add 12 points and Aaron Valdes 10 points as the Warriors improved to 8-3. The Gaels fell to 9-2.
UH will play Oregon State at 11 a.m. Wednesday for fifth place.
Hawai’i led by as much as 48-39 after opening the second half with a layup by Fotu and Spearman’s three-point play, but Saint Mary’s chipped away and eventually tied it at 63-63 on a 3-pointer by Beau Levesque with 6:25 remaining. The Warriors grabbed the lead back on Fotu’s free throw and later extended it to 70-65 on Garrett Nevels’ reverse layup with 3:22 left.
But the Gaels fought back again and eventually tied it at 72-72 on another 3-pointer by Levesque with 1:25 showing. Fotu then scored on a finger roll with 51 seconds remaining to put UH ahead, 74-72, but Levesque answered with a layup 20 seconds later and was fouled. But he missed the free throw, and Standhardinger grabbed the rebound.
After a timeout with 21.1 ticks remaining, Shamburger worked the clock down to about eight seconds before penetrating to the free throw line and dishing to Standhardinger on the left baseline.
After trailing 10-6 early, Hawai’i went on a 13-3 run capped by Keith Shamburger’s 3-pointer to lead, 19-13, with 12:33 remaining in the half. Saint Mary’s came back to tie it several times and eventually took a 39-38 lead after Stephen Holt’s two free throws with 1:48 left, but the Warriors ended the first half with a 5-0 run including Aaron Valdes’ 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
These guys are awesome. Shamburger was great setting up Standhardinger’s winning shot. I just love to watch this Hawaii team. Exciting and full of energy.
PULSATING….
Much Fewer FANS Tonight (DONʻT QUIT on This Team!)
The Emergence of Aaron Valdes as a Superior Force that St. Maryʻs was not Ready For…
(AND He Learned as Coach GIB Had a Coniption — sp.? He Said Aneurysm —
“NO BREAKS” On Defense…)
Keith Shamburger — SIX Assists, ZERO Turnovers —
Christian (BW Player of the Week, again?) 14-17 Free-Throws AND Game-Winning SHOT AND Inbounds STEAL…
SOLID Team Play All the Way Against a St.Maryʻs Team — they ʻmightʻ Beat Us 6, 7, 8, 9 out of Ten Games — that REFUSED To Quit, Nailing Key Lay-up after Lay-Up and Three after Three …
NOW On Christmas Day we get the 11:00 (Basketball should Not be played Before 11 a.m.) Obama ʻOhana Beavers …
To ALL A Good Night and
A MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS !
These past two game’s opponents not junk..NCAA and higher RPI teams ..great battles and fantastic win this year against SM.,Gaels. Team getting better and better..now beat the Beavers!!
Go Bows!!
😀
Hey Eagle, Palolo,sevante, FUHA, and all the rest of Warrior Insider Nation, this team, Gib’s team, are becoming something special. Diamond Head Classic, good, very good teams. UH stayed with and probably would have won against Boise. Now, they upset, a very good NCAA bound St Mary’s team.
Day by day, as hoops says, week by week, game to game, and from 2013 into 2014 and BWC just get better and stay together as Christian says.
I thought the leadership of the Seniors, Christian, Davis and Brandon Spearman, are really evident. The guard play, is outstanding. Gib’s staff, game plan, really working.
Shout out to TribeVx4, the Valdes Ohana. Aaron, really went off, skying , and flying! His 10 pts, and defense, were key to win too. And Aaron playing with a hurt arm.
Tremendous win Guys!
This team, is something, special, and possibly great things await come BWC tournament time!
Go Bows. Rainbow Warriors..!!
Uhfanzonly1.
P.S. Great, great win and competitive spirit in Classic for potential one or two recruits? in house. And watching in USA and globally, you want to be part of a great, and growing DI NCAA MBB program in the mid pacific, come to Hawaii, and be a Rainbow Warrior.
Go the mighty warriors, Tonganator, Isaac played really well, Spearman Ohana, Brandon was really balling! Great team effort, and Sham, outstanding PG play, along with two 3 balls. Upgrade Eagle, from Jace, Garrett J. and Manroop, definitely, wish those guys the best, however now time for Nevels, Shamburger , Smith, and outstanding Senior, with heart, the heart and soul of team Brandon Spearman, fear the spear. to shine!
Uhfanzonly1.
Excellent Competition…
Battle Royales Both Nights
NO QUIT in Any of the Three Teams
To me, It Would Appear UHMBB is Learning How to WIN…
#62 New Mexico State then #48 Missouri were able to Stretch Leads Out To Strong Victories
#54 Boise State Squeaked Away, just barely
#45 Saint Mary’s Couldn’t
I Would Bet that #118 Oregon State won’t get away either
From #115 (And Rising!) HAWAI’I…
Yup, this team can dig alright. I don’t know about you guys but I’m sleeping with a smile on my face tonight.
Finally we win a nail biter against a really good St Marys team that beat us the last time around, Valdes came through, in the clutch, Davis, well , he needs to dip is hands in hot sand buckets and get them fingers and grip a lot stronger, come on Davis, play strong ,man youre killing us . Spearman, the warrior, he never quits, and never backs down. Christian, you got blocked, you got the ballstripped and stolen every time you take it in the paint so keep shooting those short jumpers 12-14 footers ,and get deadly at it. You will be more effective that way.Merry xmas to our Warriors and please all fans get out Wed 11am to SSC and pack the hours ,we need to be loud and crazy,and get our guys revved up. Warrior time baby!
Congratulations to all the bows and the coaches. You have to love these guys. This one was for the memory books, a real Christmas present. Even better with so many parents and families there to see them. There was never a let down and that was what was needed for a quality team like SM. See you on the 25th. Be there or be nowhere!!!!