UC Santa Barbara holds off Hawai’i, 98-90
Freshman guard Gabe Vincent scored a game-high 25 points and fellow guard Michael Bryson added 22 points and five rebounds tonight to help visiting UC Santa Barbara hold off Hawai’i, 98-90, in Big West Conference men’s basketball action.
A Senior Night “White-Out” crowd of 5,879 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched center Alan Williams score 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Gauchos improved to 17-12 overall, 9-5 in the Big West. The Rainbow Warriors fell to 19-12, 7-8 in their home finale.
Roderick Bobbitt led UH with a career-high 26 points to go with four assists and Stefan Jankovic 20 points and seven rebounds.
UCSB led, 49-39, after a fast-paced first half and led by as many as 17 points, at 73-56, after Bryson’s slam dunk midway through the second. The Rainbow Warriors were able to close it to 84-76 on Bobbitt’s 3-pointer with three minutes remaining, but the Gauchos answered with four straight free throws to push the lead to 88-76 with 1:22 left.
Hawai’i got as close as 94-88 on Garrett Nevels’ running bank shot with 17.9 seconds remaining and 96-90 on Bobbitt’s layup with 11.7 ticks on the clock, but Zalmico Harmon sealed the victory with two free throws at 7.7 seconds left.
UCSB finished the game shooting 56.4 percent (31 of 55) from the field, including 7 of 14 shots from 3-point range.
Reserve guard Isaac Fleming, recovering from an ankle sprain that caused him to miss the previous three games, made his return early in the first half but then got re-injured after slamming into a hard screen at halfcourt early in the second half. He left the game at that point and did not return. Former starting forward Mike Thomas, also nursing an ankle sprain from Feb. 14, played nine minutes in the first half but was mostly ineffective, failing to score and grabbing only one rebound with two turnovers.
UCSB started hot from outside and did not really cool off, finishing the first 20 minutes at a torrid 57.6 percent (19 of 33) from the field, including 5 of 10 shooting from 3-point range. Vincent was particularly on fire, nailing 5 of 7 field goals including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc in scoring 14 points.
Bryson also had 14 points by halftime, on 6 of 9 shooting, and center Williams added 11 points and five rebounds. The Gauchos also out-rebounded the Rainbow Warriors, 15-10, including a 5-2 edge on the offensive glass.
UCSB led 26-13 at one point, before Hawai’i chipped away and eventually closed it to 34-31 and then 36-33. But the Gauchos finished the half with a 13-6 run to lead, 49-39, at the break.
The Warriors are scheduled to depart Honolulu on Thursday afternoon for its regular-season finale at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday. They will remain in California after that for next week’s Big West Conference Tournament at Anaheim.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
(Game photo courtesy Matt Osumi)
You know, due to circumstances, first UH basketball this season, did not watch live or listen to on radio, or follow online.. Not that it would have made difference.
UCSB.. very good team , that starting 5, too bad the Fleming injury, hope he is okay for BWC tournament.
Hey, fans, unbelievable, UH has TWO more chances to get 20 wins.. Fullerton at Fullerton and first round game as maybe 5th seed, against maybe LBSU..
Team so much heart.. feel they will battle for win at Fullerton, that is 20 wins, and remember Poly and go for it.
Touching and sad, Benjy alluding to in post game show, that this would be His Last Home Game at SSC.. sad, really sad.. Hope Benjy would apply.. maybe ready to move on.. I hope he stays, applies and HIS Body of Work is tremendous.
Very sad.. However, UH can still get 20th win at Fullerton, and BWC tournament, UH can still win it !!
Go Bows.. Hey UH Warrior Fans, we supported team since October, now March, let’s cheer them on, more, and help them make it to Finals of BWC tournament !!
Benjy, WE Love you Brother,.. great, great job, keeping team together.. Benjy Taylor first class Head Coach, Western USA, one of best coaches hands down !!
We were beaten by a better team tonight , they shot the ball lights out in the first half , and we never really caught up, rebounding was poor. I thought we would have come out with more defensive intensity from the start . We stayed to the end and watched the ceremony , nice aloha to both Nevels and Jawato . But what a disappointing end for the last home game . Argggg..totally bummed, will be at the tournament and support the guys, we got to go past the first round for once, this has got to be the year!
RunBows
True about UCSB. They are red hot and although UH played a decent game the Gauchos were firing on all cylinders. They got to be the favorite to win the Big West Tournament. But it aint over till it’s over and Hawaii still got an outside shot to pull an upset. At least 2 more games to go. We can still close out with a bang. Hope it’s not too serious with Flemming.
servante…. sure we talk about the basketball side, The Human side, the humanity, the decency, the going above and beyond, taking personal attacks, to himself and his team. Wonder out loud, if UH, just non supportive of Benjy as HC, pretty sure, Benjy’s agent discussed throughout year, Benjy getting multi year deal, before the hiring of New AD.. slap in the face.. It would shore up that recruiting of JC Big monster rebounder and banger, as well as that JC top shooting wing, a real knockdown 3 ball, and finisher.
Benjy Taylor, Hugh Durham Mid Major Coach of the Year 2014. Signature win on Maui, no one except Benjy , his staff and the shorthanded Bows, thought they could beat Pitt, and if Pitt gets hot down stretch of ACC tournament, wins some games , they might go to NCAA’s. One of two teams to beat Cal Davis all year. The awesome showing in DHC.. then the injuries, and illness at wrong time, the BWC regular season, if they did not have those things happen, very sure, UH would be, not 7-8, they would be probably 11-4 or better at this point. UCSB, playing well, Give UH a shot at Anaheim, where UH played really well for 39 minutes, until lost game to CSUN last season. Still think Benjy and the Bows.. they can win the BWC tournament in Anaheim.. momentum game key, Win that 20th victory at Fullerton.. Fullerton got nothing to lose, so they come out firing, UH just has to out D and Offensive out shoot them on the road, in front of 1100 fans,…And then on to Anaheim.
Sad, so very sad, when Rocha, was fired at the Rainbows Awards banquet in April 1973, very sad, Bob Nash, 3 year run and no winning record. could not recruit top notch talent, hampered, sad.. Riley and Larry Little’s ailments, and Larry’s untimely death at young age of 75.. and Larry was taking care of his Brother Riley in Vegas, since Riley recovering from stroke, .sad..
Now Benjy, and Rob Demello , maybe Dayton, Dave R., who became a real genuine fan of resilient Bows this year, are going to interview Benjy and ask why did you say, this game against UCSB, was you last game at SSC, and you want the sophs to stay together, no matter whom the coach.
Head scratching time.. maybe, I am just guessing hope I am wrong,.. JMO.. speculation, whether, Benjy made decision Not To Pursue the HC job, and just finish out season strong at Fullerton and possibly get hot and go NCAA’s by winning BWC tournament….Usually, Benjy says, he is just focused on getting team ready to win next game and focus on Anaheim, don’t want to comment on future.. Business as usual.. However that statement He coached his Last Game at SSC , almost sound like it is Goodbye to Hawaii and his wonderful MBB team 2014-15 edition.
Very sad.. very, very sad.. strength through adversity.
Benjy, I hope you reconsider, apply for the HC job, and go out and win 3 or 4 more games, and possibly go NCAA’s, if you do.. what a legacy, one of the top winningest first year HC interim or contracted for several years ever.. even if end up at 20 wins.. historic.
Say it ain’t so, however, wonder if UH admin, not supportive of Benjy.. that falls on UH admin, Benjy did the heavy lifting, if he does not have their support, or he THE MAIN guy, on list, just go through protocol for HC job.. sad, very sad..
Benjy and Bows.. go ahead win the next 4 games, go to NCAA’s leave that lasting legacy.. strange the silence on part of MBB team, who social media communicate, so much.. about everything, now time to step up, the returnees, and give their support to Benjy.. unless Benjy says HE IS NOT COMING back, wants to move on.. very sad, very very sad..
Benjy great job, and for myself following all MBB teams for over 47 years, one of the most exciting, and heart lifting teams I have ever followed.. and not done yet, possibly 4, 5 , 6 , 7 8, 9 games to go!
Just my take, on radio interview, we shall see when tomorrow, on Bobby’s show, Rob Demello and Robert;s , Mark;’s sports reports, or with Brian’s blog if any substance that Benjy will not pursue Head coaching job for next year.. He wins the BWC tourney , a shoe in,.. if he wins 21 games overall; AND they play in CBI or CIT financed by the 1.2 million dollar donation by nice lady.,. shoe in for next permanent HC.. otherwise, maybe UH admin non supportive.. we shall see.
Team, hey guys speak up, or tweet support for Benjy Taylor, who kept you all together, to still be on verge of 20 game plus winning season..
DARK
Darkest 19-12 With Opportunity i’ve seen
Don’t KNOW
Academics Problems? Attending & Passing Classes
CEO / CFO Money-Handling Skills
Hotel-Room, Referee-Techs Discipline Issues?
But Hearing, From BC and Company
What Sounds Like Ferd’s Comments
Emotion Versus All-Metrics Analysis
BUT Attributed to UH Admin
Same Group that could NOT EARN Fotu’s Trust
OR FIND Best or Winning Solution with Brandyn
OR A Workable Deal or Approach with Arnold
OR Ben Jay
OR Benjy?
That Has MINOR Problem Accusations
Then Triggers Immediate MAJOR Self-Sanction Actions
Maybe THEY WILL Find a Best-FIT AND UH-WINNING Coach
“Better”? Than Their Upper-Campus Recruiting?
BUT WHY Would He Come Here
With UH Admin Track Record
And Shortage of Funds
And Play-EAST Handi-Cap / Challenge
When They CAN Choose a Better Situation
IN a D-1 Basketball Hotbed
Because THEY Can Choose
(Only a Dick Tomey, June Jones Type Scenario)
ONLY Three WINNING Coaches in UH D-1 History
And Mostly NOT Enough (Winning) for Many “Fans”
Two of Three Will Likely Be Tagged as Cheaters
Could Sound Like An “Excuse”, BUT The Next Coach Has To Beat These Odds…
Even The Best, Highest PAID NFL Coaches Could NOT Beat (EASTERN) NFL-Europe
NO West Coast Team in the NFL IS ABOVE .500 Travelling East, Against Eastern Teams
AND Long-Time, Smart Coaches Avoid Travelling West, Then Back East, Before Big Games
We’ll See…