Warriors soar past Vulcans, 89-71
Aaron Valdes scored a game-high 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Garrett Nevels added 14 points and six rebounds and Roderick Bobbitt added 12 points, 10 assists and 10 steals tonight to help the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team to an 89-71 victory over UH-Hilo.
A pau hana crowd of 1,666 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Isaac Fleming add 12 points and four assists and Quincy Smith finish with as the Rainbow Warriors improved to 3-1; the Vulcans fell to 1-2.
Bobbitt became just the second player in school history — after Reggie Carter in the 1975-76 season — to record a triple-double.
Hawai’i led 48-39 at halftime but Hilo closed it to 48-41 after a pair of free throws by Tre Johnson two minutes into the second half. Isaac Fleming then scored on a driving layup to start an 18-4 run capped by Valdes’ layup to make it 66-45 with 12:45 remaining, and Hilo could not get closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
The Warriors are scheduled to depart for Maui on Thursday afternoon, and they will face national power Pitt on Friday night at Wailuku, Maui.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
(Game photo courtesy Brandon Flores)
Wow, congrats on the triple double Bobbitt. Sad to see only 1,900 fans show up. I know it’s a D2 team but you would still expect at least 3K.
Good job. Looking ahead to Pittsburgh !
Great job valdes! Love his athleticism! And his shot looks more natural this year. Also, bobbit was the man tonight! I know it was against a team with not so much talent and athleticism, but these two were transcendent because they were playing in system.
On a side note, is NWC still hurting?
Also, why isn’t the pitt game being streamed or televised? The best “home” opponent of the year is not able to be seen? Something’s wrong with that.
Playing in the system. Really? Good !
Hope this talented team all are able to gel ‘in the system’ by the Pittsburgh game, ranked about 30 in the AP poll. At least enough of them to get the win.
I really want to see Nevels start breaking out as well. Thought he had a great off season.
How is Benjy’s system progressing? He should know the players pretty well by now.
I would think he would be taking advantage of Nevels 3 pt shot, and yes perhaps Negus is still hurting, and other players we would think can really hit from outside. Was it only through Gibs system where this particular aspect was, shiny ? Couldn’t be, because of Nevels off season performance. MT has shown excellence. Hope he can keep it up. He should be fully healed after that Moped accident. I have full confidence in Jovanovic, but he must stay out of foul trouble. MT too. I kind of expect that Sammis might get into foul trouble, but he is the kind of player to adjust. He wants to stay on the court. I would like to see Negus and Sammis and Valdes play together, once they are all healthy and ‘playing in the system’.
Congrats 15Champs,
You are obligated to play with your best effort (some: hot-hand, 130%, pain, fatigue…);
Mission accomplished (good job).
In war, there are hero(s); In athletics, there are hot-hand(s):
Airon flight passed his recent personal-high record right-after a false-prophet boo-bird’s demeaning prediction!
Rod’s Triple-double impressive performance even won some media-tyrant’s recognition,
away from their usual slighting, wise-cracking comments!
Pitts going to be viciously attacking like a pit-bull.
Hope your young bodies rejuvenated in time to battle like a “DAVID”???
Everybody stepped-up till we welcome you home, Mahalo!!!