UC Irvine defeats Hawai’i in overtime, 60-56
UC Irvine got its payback in a 60-56 overtime victory over the University of Hawai’i basketball team on Thursday night.
The victory by the Anteaters avenged an overtime loss to the Warriors last month in Irvine, Calif., and kept UC Irvine alone in first place in the Big West Conference.
The Anteaters improved to 18-9 overall and 9-2 in the Big West. Hawai’i dropped to 18-8 and 7-5, all but eliminating its chances at the regular-season title.
The Warriors had their worst shooting night of the season, going just 16 for 54 for a .296 percentage.
UC Irvine out-scored the Warriors 9-5 in the five-minute overtime period.
Christian Standhardinger led the Warriors with 12 points, though he shot just 2 for 9 from the field. Isaac Fotu contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds. Garrett Nevels added 10 points.
Standhardinger scored eight points during a 12-5 Hawai’i surge that put the Warriors ahead, 20-13, with 8:06 remaining in the first half. The Warriors eventually took a 26-25 lead at halftime.
The first half was a battle of defenses, as neither team shot it well. The Warriors went just 6 of 22 from the field (27.3 percent), while the Anteaters were 10 for 26 (38.5 percent).
Hawai’i’s early advantage was built at the free-throw line, as the Warriors went 13 for 15 in the first half to UC Irvine’s 1 for 6.
The Warriors used a 9-2 surge early in the second half to push their lead up to 38-31 with 15:01 remaining.
The Anteaters chipped away at the Hawai’i lead, and finally caught the Warriors when Will Davis II’s jumper gave UC Irvine a 50-49 lead with 4:44 remaining.
A running jumper in the lane by Brandon Spearman put Hawai’i back in front at 51-50, then the Anteaters tied it 51 when Mamadou Ndiaye hit one of two free throws with 2:38 remaining.
Each team had three possessions after that, but neither could convert. UC Irvine had the final possession, but Luke Nelson’s 3-point attempt came up way short after defensive pressure from Garrett Nevels.
The Anteaters scored the first four points of overtime, including two free throws by Ndiaye, and the Warriors never quite recovered.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
Weak…Biggest game of the year and we only got about 5K fans in the house. Tough loss, but we have to find a way to figure out the zone. It really slowed down our pace and we had difficulty getting good looks with Ndiaye manning the middle. Time to improve and make a run in March.
First off…we had multiple chances to win it but choked. Second of all…these refs SUCKED. First half was even, but second half was all Irvine. They be full on getting physical with the Warriors, but no whistle. We barely touch them and the whistle goes. Ref’s threw the game, plain and simple. Bailing out Irvine over and over. What a crock. Okay, moving on, Saturday night should be a fun one to watch.
Strange season..UH really shoots better on road than Thursday at home..they lost to top 3 teams in BWC..UH lostgames because they could not hit their outside shots ..when needed Nevels could have launched a couple og threes in OT..everyone were yelling Shoot it!!..he hits one in OT UH wins..oh well I would not doubt if UH goes 4-0 to end season..have great chance to win BWC TOURNAMENT. .any team top 8 can win it..UH gets win 19 this Saturday! !
Go Bows!!
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Great defense ..effort and low turnovers. UH has to shoot practice in SSC before final 2 home games! ! Felling UH Gets on roll and goes into BWC at 22-8!!
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UH GET AT LEAST 3 out of 4 ..10-6 go into tournament. .they have chance to win and NCAA’s
As Gib says, Great Effort…
Gave themselves The Shot(s) for The Win
Cold Shooting Again, At Home
Hold Opposition to 38% Shooting,
UH should Win its share
Same End Game as Fullerton Really
Against a Better Team
IF You have an MJordan you Win More Games
Like Most Teams, We Don’t
But the Defense Allowed us to Shoot for the Win
Refs probably called a Better Game @ Irvine
Therefore Ndiaye in More Foul Trouble Up There
IF We Do Well…
Rubber Match — Third O.T.?
At The BWC Tourney…
Chin Up
Head Up
As Shamburger and Coach point out
This Team Improves After Loss(es)
Support The Team Better Saturday Night
Go ‘Bows!
BTW, You People Here ARE Good Fans…
Yes, I am one of those old timers that do the preseason pickem, how UH would fare in BWC and end regular season going into BWC tournament. I still stick with my prediction from pre November 2013, pre season. UH would go 11-5 BWC regular season. Finish 3rd. And finish overall regular season record at 22-8. Sort of like hoopsa pick. Agree with Eagle, Gib, and Shamburger who incidentally had a Great Interview post game radio show with Gary Dickman. Keith is so honest, team guy, says his shooting waaay off this season,all he can do is keep practicing, and more so this summer. Team chemistry he says is good, team still goal to go NCAA’s, the 18 wins and only 8 losses of BWC teams, top 3 in conference overall. Still good record. They want to go on winning streak and have momentum going into BWC tourney, and anyone, including Hawaii can win it and go Dance.
This team has a lot of heart. Have to learn to attack zone, and have to hit perimeter shots, against the Big Guy, he really sealed the deal , Mamadou, by hitting his FT shots! Good game for him. Not to worry fans, UH will get win against Davis on Saturday, no major letdown, they are undefeated on Saturdays in BWC play, and they go for 2 road games, over a span of 2 weeks, so UH can still sweep those games, more time to rest and prepare, weird schedule. Then Big Senior nite for Christian, Brandon Spearman, and Davis Rozitis, who are not finished winning and going to hopefully the NCAA’s, do not count the Rainbow Warriors out. UH can still be marching deep into March 2014!
Go Bows!
Uhfanzonly1.
A Upgrade Positive Eagle and others, from one year ago? The guards handling the ball, only 8 turnovers, although, Irvine not putting huge pressure on them, last year, UH would lose the ball a lot of times. Now UH stats, average per game overall season 11.9 turnovers, which is great.
This team as Eagle says, they learn from every loss, then come out better next game, still would not count them out, since, they will not see the top Defensive team in the league until BWC tournament play, if UH runs the table final 4 games, I am sure, to a man, they lost to a great team, actually 3 top BWC teams, LBSU, UCSB and Irvine, at home, no blowouts, and actually beat Irvine at their place, so UH No fear anyone, respect everyone, they can win it all in Anaheim. would that not be sweet, like the Trevor Ruffin, Tony Maroney led team of 1994 that won 3 games in a row in old WAC tournament and went to NCAA’s first time in 22 years. and the Savo led, back to back squads that beat Tulsa at WAC tournament in Tusla at their home gym, so UH , and This Is the Best UH MBB team in a decade, next year, they will have the bigs, the wings, and shooters, not to worry, This team, can still dance, complete confidence, Gib and guys will never every give up, and Tonganator, and Ohana, neither will the Die Hard several thousand UH MBB fans, watch how many young ones will get autographs on Saturday after Davis game!
Go Bows. Rainbow Warriors.
Uhfanzonly1.
That was the most disgusting show of reffing i’ve ever seen. plain and simple.