Warriors grind out 69-60 win over Cal Poly
Isaac Fotu scored 26 points and Christian Standhardinger added 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the University of Hawai’i basketball team to a 69-60 victory over Cal Poly on Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Warriors improved to 16-7 overall and 5-4 in the Big West Conference, and snapped a streak of five consecutive losses to Cal Poly. The Mustangs dropped to 8-15 and 4-5.
Fotu scored 16 in the second half, when the Warriors were able to edge away from the Mustangs. He shot 10 for 13 from the field, including 6 for 7 in the second half, and 6 for 8 on free throws.
Standhardinger’s 12 boards helped lead Hawai’i to a 37-22 advantage in team rebounding.
Cal Poly took an early 14-8 lead, but Standhardinger and Fotu combined to score 10 points during a 13-3 surge that put the Warriors in front, 21-17.
The Mustangs tied it at 21, but the Warriors responded with an 8-0 surge to take a 29-21 lead, and Hawai’i eventually took a 32-24 advantage at halftime.
The Warriors increased their lead to 46-35 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the second half, but the Mustangs rallied to cut the Hawai’i lead to one, 54-53, with 6:30 remaining.
The Warriors responded with an 8-0 run to push their lead back up to nine at 62-53 with 3:53 remaining. Cal Poly never got closer than six the rest of the way.
Chris Eversley, Cal Poly’s top player, was held to two points on 0-for-5 shooting from the field and 2 for 2 on free throws.
Kyle Odister and Dave Nwaba scored 12 each to lead Cal Poly.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
That’s the way to do it! No outside shooting? Go inside. If we were making our outside shots we would have blown them out. But when the shooters are off go inside cause we got great inside players. Coach Arnold, this forum has been talking about Aaron Valdez from day one to let him play. It’s going to come sooner or later and tonight we saw glimpses of what he is capable of. You want an x factor towards the end of the season—you got it in Valdez. He along with Smith and Rozitis must play a huge role towards the end of the season and into the playoffs if we are the go deep into tournament play, Just hope the shooters can regain their touch.
Great win Boys!! To quote Keith, “let’s turn the haters into believers!” I have believed all along. Maybe some of these scrubs will start believing as well. I know the haters have never balled a day in their lives….Let’s get two next week!
Wow! What an exciting game. Your eyes had to be glued to the game the whole time to see all the action in motion! The UH men had to fight for this one, because no calls were going their way.
Loved seeing the soft hands of Fotu effortlessly putting the ball in, the aggressiveness of Davis on rebounding and getting the crowd involved, Valdes infusing the spark, Christian getting those boards, and Keith got his shot so he could point to the angel watching him above.
You guys got me nervous when it got to a one point game, however I was happy to breathe when the gap was formed once again. Congrats to the seniors as Brandon “wanted this one against Cal Poly” you guys broke the streak which feels really good.
Looking around the arena, the Saturday crowd was in force. The superheroes were amoung us and “this game was a party.” Enjoy the W.
servante-Manoa Baller-Valerie Schmidt: Great game. Agree servante, Gib is becoming good coach, or he is one already, very passionate. Feed Fotu. When Isaac going against, bigs that are his size, or ability, he takes over. Awesome.
Christian, very well rounded game, 12 boards, 18 pts and 9 for 9 from FT line, nuff said!
Manoa Baller-That is the only way for UH MBB team to silence the negative nancies, and naysayers, the anti-Gib movement, just WIN…great win.
I agree with the commentators for game, and the radio post game. UH since that Davis, Irvine sweep on the road, They seem to focus more, so many Cali players, their families and friends will be there to support at Riverside and Fullerton, it is like playing in JC ball or HS for Nevels, Smith, Valdes, Jovanovich, Jawato, Shamburger, they feel comfortable.
Manoa Baller, UH can sweep, one game at a time.
And servante and sarconic, this team never gives up, that 3 pt shooting will return, perhaps, pretty sure next week, Nevels, Shamburger, Spearman, Smith, will be hitting some timely ones from outside, along with great D and rebounding, and the bigs go to work
And Valerie Schmidt, sure…got a little nervous when Poly got within on, however the boys pulled it out, Valdes and Rozitis and Christian, go huge rebounds, on O and D!
Go Bows!
Gib and team great job!
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yes, the best remedy for losing? Winning! Great job Gib and team!
Go Bows!
Uhfanzonly1.
Good win servante, Manoa and Valerie Schmidt. Cal Poly had no answer for Isaac Fotu. I think the only guy that out muscled Isaac in league play so far, Alan Williams, still Isaac got 17 points and 8 boards. Isaac is having a Big West first team year, along with Christian. Good Win.
Now, UH go for the sweep on the road. Gib get good scout, and guards , get your 3 point shooting back, then team will be battling for those top 3 spots at end, or if finish with 7-1 flourish, even the regular season title.
These are a bunch of tough buggahs!, Smith playing hurt, Isaac was hurt, Christian, bruised knee and sick, Spearman, high ankle sprain, Shamburger hip flexor, and they get off the mat, and win, truly a very good team. Just get the next UH Basketball team.
Incidentally at the game, crowd attendance good and loud. with the Maniacs and superhero theme a family and fan friendly atmosphere, Good job Jamie Smith!
Hope UH comes back to SSC for next homestand after a 2 game road sweep!
Great Comments, Observations, Valerie;
Nice Summation of the Game, Atmosphere & Week
Now Can Re-Sharpen their Game and Test the Improvements On the Road…
Two Two Game Road Trips sandwich a Two Game Homestand
Will NEED Much More On the Floor when we Test Ourselves @LBSU & @UCSB
Just to Be InThe Game
Nice Boarding by Rozitis and ValdeĀ“s
So We Can Figure Out Cal Poly
LetĀ“s Run a Long Win Streak on them
Next Two Weeks Last Gasp Regular Season Run?
The Champions are likely Separating
Earning Some Distance
Go ‘Bows!
Also, awesome rebounding, and defense last very important minutes of game by Airon Valdes, he was key, to helping UH secure win. And of course, Shamburger, hit clutch free throws to seal the deal.
Aaron, must have 45 inch vertical, his head is about rim high!
servante, agree with you, Valdes’ athleticism, he is smart the way he jumps, gets offensive rebounds, altered several shots by Cal Poly, and is long and athletic, he is a Big West athlete…Gib will use him, and hopefully Smith’s hand is better, looks like he jammed his left hand, hope it is not fractured!, Rozits, play that Monster on that press and Zone, and get 5 key boards, and a few putback baskets, that eight man rotation is getting to be solid. Gib is using timeouts, and substitution patterns, really smart now. too bad, on an off D night against a great PG in Caffey,,and a whole team off shooting night against LBSU, otherwise, UH would be sitiing at 7-2 tied with Irvine.
Oh well, live and learn, and this team after the Thursday nite losses, they come back strong, and win. Now, they are playing well on road, thinking, we have to win these games, should be exciting next week against Riverside and Fullerton, man, oh man, if UH can come back at 7-4 and 18-7 overall to SSC following week, Free Frotu wigs for all in attendance!
Thank you Servante for stating my thoughts of Valdes. Never understood why Coach Arnold limits Valdes playing time.
In the game Caffey went off Coach Arnold should have used Valdez, guarded by a long and athletic player would have disrupted Caffey’s game. Valdes’ positives so outweigh his negative.