Warriors rally past Omaha, 77-73
Keith Shamburger sank two technical free throws with 53.1 seconds remaining for the go-ahead points and Christian Standhardinger immediately added a free throw tonight to lift Hawai’i to a thrilling 77-73 victory over Omaha.
A tense crowd of about 5,700 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Isaac Fotu score a game-high 26 points and grab seven rebounds, Garret Nevels add 12 points and Shamburger and Standhardinger each finish with 10 points as the Warriors improved to 11-3. The Mavericks fell to 10-5.
Omaha missed a short leaner on its next possession and Shamburger came up with the loose ball rebound with 13.6 seconds left, then sank one of two free throws to make it 75-72. Devin Patterson made one of two free throws to cut it to 75-73 with 9.9 ticks remaining, but Nevels grabbed the rebound and sealed the victory with two free throws with 7.5 seconds remaining to make it 77-73.
Omaha led by nine, 65-56, after two free throws by Caleb Steffenmeier with 7:44 remaining, but Quincy Smith squeezed through for a baseline drive from the left side to start a 9-2 run capped by Fotu’s three-point play to close it to 67-65 with 4:30 left. Fotu then closed it to 69-68 by making one of two free throws with 2:55 remaining, but Justin Simmons answered with a reverse layup 40 seconds later.
Foul trouble plagued Hawai’i in the first half, as both Fotu and reserve center Davis Rozitis picked up two each in the first 10 minutes and were forced to the bench. Freshman center Stefan Jovanovic came in for a rare appearance and immediately contributed with two mid-range jumpers, but Omaha’s Mike Rostampour sank two free throws to break a 22-22 tie with 7:13 remaining and the Mavericks kept the lead, eventually going up, 36-30, on Alex Phillips’ 3-pointer with 1:43 left.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
I say it every time…..this team is so exciting and energetic. I look forward to seeing this team play. The last couple of minutes, I could barely seat down in my seat. A sign of a good team that they’re able to come back after being behind most of the game.
GO WARRIORS!!!
This Team play D and shoot well..take care of the ball..they can.or will win BWC regular and BWC Tournament championshi.NIT and NCAA’s ppossibl! !
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Go Bows!!
FUHA: Always thought Stefan Jovanovich could affect winning. .without his 6 huge pts .rebound..and blocked. shot..
Go Stefan! !
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HUNTER!
WIN NUMBER ELEVEN…
ANOTHER PULSATING WIN,
SNATCHED From the Jaws of Defeat…
Good One, ‘Bows!
Good Teams Find Ways To WIN Even on Bad Nights…
How Many More Can This Team ‘Steal’?
Like Being Good Enough to Cheat Death…
NOW Go “Steal” Some on The ROAD…
Palolo Warrior, sign of a good, team, very good, when Another Guy steps up big affect winning. This time Isaac Fotu, put on an All Big West first team conference performance.
Plus, Jawato, Rozitis, Thomas, Valdes, Smith, and Jovanovich, Total of SIX, guys off the bench, gave starters, and those in foul trouble a break, as hoopsa says, Jovanovich, coming in first half, to help out foul plauged Fotu, and Rozitis, was huge, his six points, with no hesitation and rebounding, being as physical as that very good Omaha team’s bigs were, as well as a great blocked shot, now we know that Stefan, after battling the bigs in practice all season, is ready for duty. Going to need that True Big, come Big West season.
It all starts next week at Poly, of course, the guys rightfully so, are thinking sweep, however, if they come back 1-1, fantastic, with a chance to go 2-1, after Riverside home game, then, think sweep again, or at least split on following week road trip.
This team, is great, never say, die, and now, they are protecting home court. Guys, just have to get better, much better, play , upped several notches on the road. You can do it. Make us believers. Great, bunch, if you all can, see them, hopefully at 2-0, when the return for Riverside home game, this team, are really good, and come March, hopefully will be really Great, begins with Defense, and shooting ball well..Solid Win.
oh my, what a pull it out game. down by 9 i thought, they’re gonna pull away, but we chipped and chipped and fotu carried us on his back. i’m so glad that bandage is gone off his hand. hopefully it’s fully recovered. i guess he made good on his NY resolution so far. be more aggressive. the first half he and christian were negated by those flops on those very big men called centers that usually don’t fall down so easily.
and are referees getting worse or is it just me? i can’t believe some of the calls both ways. and how was their coach not given a T for almost stealing the ball himself from our guard. he was literally standing right next to him on the pepsi sign.
this was a good team tho. i didn’t think they’d ever miss from the free throw line. and they did run the court very well.
this is a good warm up for the BWC tho, as their teams are really similar to this one. quick, good guards and one or two decent big men.
good win. good night!
Omaha had a really good team. They were quick, and played very well together. Their speed seemed to throw us off our game and seemed to affect our shots early. Our teams tenacity wore them down. Great game. Our preparation proved it self in the end. Good job by the coaches. Looks like Spearman is getting his legs under him. Looking for a great Big West season and an continuing on to a great post season.
sham had a pretty bad first half but shout out to him for coming back strong….without that kind of leadership we would’ve lost