Warriors look for revenge at UC Riverside on Thursday
On the night of January 25, the University of Hawai’i basketball team played what was described that same night by head coach Eran Ganot as “a disservice to the university” in a 70-64 loss to UC Riverside.
Eight days later and approximately 2,600 miles away, the Warriors will get a chance to make up for it.
In a Big West Conference scheduling quirk, the Warriors and Highlanders will meet in a rematch, just one week after their first meeting in Honolulu. Thursday’s game is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. (Hawai’i time) in the SRC Arena at Riverside, Calif. An internet broadcast will be available on www.espn3.com.
Hawai’i is 9-11 overall and tied for sixth place in the Big West at 3-4. UCR is 6-12 overall and in fourth place at 4-3.
The first meeting between the teams resulted in disappointment for the Warriors, as they got out-hustled by a UCR team that played without both of its starting guards. The suspensions of Chance Murray and Malik Thames were for that game only, and both are expected to play on Thursday.
How that changes the game plans of each team remains to be seen. The duo actually returned last Saturday, and UCR lost at home to CSUN, 63-59.
Interestingly enough, the replacement guards who started in place of Murray and Thames had solid games against Hawai’i. Freshman Dikymbe Martin scored 17 points and senior Gentrey Thomas contributed seven points, five rebounds and four assists in UCR’s win at the Stan Sheriff Center. The duo started again in the subsequent loss against CSUN, with Murray and Thames playing reserve roles.
The Highlanders’ top player remains Secean Johnson, a 6-foot-5 senior forward who is averaging 11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He had 12 points and four rebounds in the win at Hawai’i.
Murray, a 6-3 junior transfer from Arizona State, is averaging 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Thames, a 6-2 senior, is contributing 8.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, and leads the team with 20 3-pointers.
Alex Larsson, a 6-10 junior center, is UCR’s top post player with averages of 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the win at Hawai’i. Brandon Rosser, a 6-7 junior forward, had nine points and six rebounds off the bench in the win at Hawai’i.
The Warriors already rebounded from that home loss to UCR with a resounding 78-56 victory over UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. Now, in addition to avenging the loss to UCR, the Warriors are in search of their first road win of the season.
Senior forward Noah Allen is coming off a career-high 34 points in the win over UCSB, but he preceded that with just eight points in the loss to UCR. He leads the Warriors in scoring (14.0) and rebounding (5.7), and is averaging a league-best 17.9 points per game against Big West teams.
Junior forward Gibson Johnson is averaging 10.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He had 16 points and six rebounds in the loss to UCR last week.
Sophomore forward Jack Purchase is averaging 9.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, and ranks fifth in the Big West with 46 3-pointers. Sophomore guard Sheriff Drammeh is contributing 9.4 points per game; sophomore point guard Brocke Stepteau is at 7.2 points and 3.0 assists per game.
Freshman guard Leland Green scored 15 in the loss to UCR, and is averaging 11.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game against Big West opponents.
Just like last week, the Warriors and Highlanders have similar team statistics. Hawai’i is averaging 68.3 points per game while shooting 41.3 percent from the field; UCR is averaging 65.2 points per game while shooting 40.6 percent from the field. Defensively, the Warriors are surrendering 68.8 points per game while allowing opponents 44.7 percent shooting; the Highlanders are surrendering 69.8 points per game while allowing opponents 42.1 percent shooting.
HAWAI’I (9-11, 3-4) AT UC RIVERSIDE
When: Thursday, February 2, 8:00 p.m. PT (6:00 p.m. Hawai’i Time)
Where: SRC Arena – Riverside, Calif.
TV: None
Video streaming: www.espn3.com
Radio: ESPN1420 AM
Audio streaming: www.espn1420am.com
Live statistics: www.gohighlanders.com
Wednesday’s Game
at CSUN 108, Long Beach State 98
Thursday’s Games
Cal State Fullerton at UC Santa Barbara
UC Davis at Cal Poly
Hawai’i at UC Riverside, 6 p.m. (Hawai’i time)
Saturday’s Games
UC Riverside at Cal Poly
UC Davis at UC Santa Barbara
Hawai’i at CSUN, 5:30 p.m. (Hawai’i time)
UC Irvine at Long Beach State
Bows need to steal this one on the road to pay back Riverside. If you look at the standings, Hawaii really not that far away from being in the race. A win today would be big. Lets Go Bows!!!
Well, hope the Warriors fare better than the Wahine, who shot 24 percent from the field (16 of 66), got outrebounded by 14 and lost to Riverside, 63-45. Nothing positive to take from this one.
The game is not showing up on the “upcoming ” schedule on ESPN3 . Not on my computer anyway. Anybody else?
never mind. i got it.