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Warriors get road win at Riverside

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Quincy Smith scored 17 points and three teammates scored in double-figures as the University of Hawai’i basketball team remained atop the Big West Conference with an 80-71 victory over UC Riverside on Thursday at Riverside, Calif.

The Warriors improved to 14-2 overall with their sixth consecutive victory, and 3-0 in the Big West. The Highlanders dropped to 9-10 with their fifth consecutive loss, and 0-3 in the Big West.

Stefan Jankovic, Mike Thomas and Isaac Fleming added 15 points each as the Warriors earned their first road win of the season (in just their second road game this season).

Smith also had six assists, Thomas contributed eight rebounds, and Jankovic had three blocked shots.

Jaylen Bland opened the game with a 3-pointer to give the Highlanders a 3-0 lead, but it was all Hawai’i after that. The Warriors went on an 8-0 run to take an 8-3 lead with 17:17 remaining in the first half, and they stayed in front the rest of the way.

Hawai’i led by as many as 14 in the first half, and eventually took a 40-27 lead at intermission. Smith led the way with 13 points in the first half on 6-of-9 shooting from the field.

The Warriors opened the game without two key starters. Junior forward Aaron Valdes was on the bench, but not in uniform, due to a turf toe injury. Senior point guard Roderick Bobbitt missed the team’s recent practices due to a reported academic issue, and did not start.

The new starting lineup for the Warriors had Smith and Isaac Fleming at guards, Sai Tummala and Mike Thomas at forwards, and Stefan Jankovic at center.

Bobbitt entered the game with 15:00 remaining in the first half, and started the second half. He shot 0 for 7 from the field, but went 6 for 6 on free throws and finished with six points, five assists, two steals and two rebounds.

The Warriors led by as many as 16 points early in the second half, but Riverside went on a 9-1 run to get as close as 59-54 with 7:28 remaining.

A 3-pointer by Thomas put Hawai’i up 62-54 with 7:02 remaining, and ended any thoughts of a Riverside rally.

Riverside’s top player, senior forward Taylor Johns, was limited to five points and two rebounds, and he fouled out with 9:35 remaining. Bland led the Highlanders with 22 points, and Secean Johnson added 21.

More details will be added, as it becomes available.

(Game photo courtesy Warren Haraki)

13 Comments

  1. Very balanced scoring.
    All in all a well coached game.
    Go Bows !

  2. We are tough to stop when there are four guys in double figures. We are a very balanced team so opposing teams cannot key in on one player. Looking forward to us sweeping through the Big West.

  3. It ‘Looked Like’ STEP-Up Time…
    (Mahalo to ESPN3 for Letting Us Watch…)
    By that I mean with Almost 30 ppg (In Starters) Off Of The Court,
    It Looked Like The Four Guys in Double Figures Understood there was Nothing to ‘Wait For’
    Take It IN And Score! Hey Quincy?

    I LIKE MikeTHOMAS — FIRST Foul in SECOND Half! —
    Controlling HIS Own Role In The Game
    SELF-Determination IS The Hallmark of CHAMPIONS
    I’m SEEING More Physcal SLAMS that I was Looking For To Take This Team To The Next Level
    And Instead Of Their BIGS Getting US in Foul Trouble
    THEY’RE Having Trouble Keeping Up, Fouling, Sitting, And Fouling OUT!
    There Are Some GOOD Trends Here…

    Just Opinion …BUT I Think Smart Coaches Turn Hardship and Difficulties
    INTO Opportunities And Growth…
    So NOW We’re Building Performance AND Depth…

    SWEEP This Road Trip!
    Blow ‘Em Out Even…
    GO ‘BOWS!

  4. Bobbitt…Eran allow him to play…we knew Hawaii would not lose
    No Rod Riverside might have won game..

    Rod makes difference to closeout games..

    Riverside not very good now..BWC tournament, highlanders can win it.
    Still so early in season..
    Want to see Warriors beat Irvine and LBSU on road..
    If UH wins next 3 games and are at
    17-2 overall…guranteed top 25 team.

    Thanks to great guard play Q, Fleming and Rod..benefits the bigs
    Mahalo team..Valdes should not play until 100%

  5. Kudos to Quincy for stepping up. He always plays 110% and when the team needed him to be confident in taking it to the hoop he came through.

    Kudos Mike Thomas for continuing to be a BEAST on the boards and maturing this year in staying out of foul trouble; I’m sure coaching has played a role.

    Kudos to Janks on the threes baby! Yeah! Bet that felt good.

    Isaac, I get mad at you when you give all the naysayers reason to harp on you. Argh. I love you though. The team won so let it go and kick butt Saturday bro.

    Great TEAM, thanks Valdes for being there. I will even admit to some big plays by Sherrif in the first half (I noted them on previous blog).

    Coach Ganot, great job! All the credit to you for bringing the best out in these talented players. You are proving your worth with each game. I appreciate your passion and I feel the love you have for this team growing.

    I admit to NOT going to the Wahine game tonight cause ai wanted to watch the whole men’s game on TV. So just watched the women on TV. Wow…they were awesome. Finally! Saturday schedule will allow for Packers, MBB, then WBB! Long day! I can’t wait.

    Great night. Not sure I can sleep now. We also got our tickets to Anaheim!

  6. Hawaii, LBSU, , Irvine teams to beat right now
    Great BWC season!!
    🙂

  7. No Valdez… NO PROBLEM!!!

    Win all conference games at home and split on the road = recipe for success in any league. Great that we’re rolling now, but being heathy and peaking come conference tourney time is going to be the key. So far so good with Ganot, hope he can keep it together and take these boys dancing.

  8. Whoa, VALDES. Not Valdez.

  9. Dang… would have been Isaac Fotu’s senior season!!
    With Isaac, Sammis and maybe NWC.. would not doubt warriors in final four
    Incredible team play

    Firsts:
    1)undefeated BWC regular season champs…into ncaa’s at 29-2 ..
    2) BWC tournament champs
    3) 4 seed Western ncaa region
    4) 2016 ncaa national champs..janks said 2 years ago, aim high..why not UH? make it happen
    5) janks, fleming, bobbitt and valdes all american recognition
    6) bobbitt , 2nd round nba draft pick, quincy nba free agent signee, sai medical school
    acceptance

    Go Bows!!
    🙂

  10. Opions..no acerbic vitorol?
    Go Bows.. Happy for team…shouldn’t you all ?
    Warrior time!
    Team doing great… !
    Cheehoo!!
    🙂

  11. Way to close out the game Bows!! Another exciting game!

    Looking forward to Saturday!

  12. Sorry, after UH runs the table in BWC regular season and BWC tournament champion..
    Warriors enter ncaa dance at 31-2
    Cheehoo!!
    🙂

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