Warrior Insider

Jack Purchase scored 15 points, Sheriff Drammeh added 14 points and Noah Allen and Gibson Johnson each added 13 points this evening as Hawai’i rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to rally past Texas State, 74-68, in thrilling Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Rainbow Classic men’s basketball action.

A vocal and energized “White-Out” crowd of about 3,400 watched the Rainbow Warriors even their record at 1-1, while the Bobcats fell to 1-1. UH will face Florida Atlantic at 11:15 p.m. Monday in the Rainbow Classic finale, as part of ESPN’s “Tipoff Marathon.”

Texas State jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the game’s first two and a half minutes, and after Hawai’i closed it to 14-13 on Allen’s alley-oop layup with 10:33 remaining in the half, the Bobcats used a 16-5 run to extend the lead to 38-24 on a layup by Bobby Conley with 59 seconds left. Zigmars Raimo converted two free throws for UH to cut the halftime deficit to 38-26.

After Marlin Davis drained a 3-pointer to put Texas State up, 49-40, with 14:56 remaining in the game, the Rainbow Warriors used a 15-6 run to tie it at 55-55 on Ido Flaisher’s layup at the 8:50 mark.

The Bobcats quickly took the lead back and stretched it to 63-58 after Gilder-Tilbury’s 3-pointer from the right corner, but Hawai’i answered with two Gib Johnson free throws and a 3-pointer by Leland Green from the left wing to tie it at 63-63 with 4:16 remaining.

The Rainbow Warriors then took their first lead at 65-63 after Drammeh’s two free throws with 3:43 left, and the defense held Texas State to only one field goal the rest of the way, as Drammeh’s free throw with 17.9 seconds on the clock put UH ahead, 72-66, and effectively sealed the victory.

More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.

Game photos courtesy Matt Osumi

Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic
Friday’s results
Texas State 61, Florida Atlantic 57
SIU-Edwardsville 69, Hawai’i 68

Sunday’s results
SIU-Edwardsville 77, Florida Atlantic 68
Hawai’i 74 Texas State 68

Monday’s games
SIU-Edwardsville vs. Texas State, 6:00 p.m.
Hawai’i vs. Florida Atlantic, 11:15 p.m.