Warriors rally for another road win at CSUN, 76-72
Noah Allen scored 34 points to lead the University of Hawai’i basketball team to a 76-72 road victory over CSUN on Saturday night at The Matadome in Northridge, Calif.
The victory gives the Warriors their first three-game winning streak of this season, including the last two on the road. Hawai’i improved to 11-11 overall and is in a tie for fourth place in the Big West Conference at 5-4.
CSUN dropped to 10-13 overall and 6-4 in conference. The Warriors beat the Matadors twice this season, and Allen scored a total of 64 points in the two wins.
Allen, a 6-foot-7 senior forward, shot 11 for 17 from the field, including 4 for 7 from 3-point range, and 8 for 10 on free throws. He also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
Jack Purchase added nine points and seven rebounds, Brocke Stepteau tallied nine points, five rebounds and four assists, and freshman Matt Owies contributed a key seven points off the bench.
Hawai’i played the game without freshman starting guard Leland Green, who was suffering from flu-like symptoms.
CSUN jumped to a 15-8 lead to start the game, but the Warriors stayed in it behind the shooting of Allen. His 3-pointer with 5:53 remaining in the first half gave Hawai’i its first lead of the game at 25-23. It was part of a 12-3 surge that gave the Warriors a 34-26 lead with 2:43 remaining.
The Warriors eventually took a 37-33 lead at intermission, with Allen scoring 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the first half.
The Matadors went on a 9-0 surge midway through the second half to take a 48-46 lead with 11:00 remaining in the second half. CSUN built the lead to 52-47, but the Warriors refused to fold.
A driving reverse layup by Gibson Johnson put Hawai’i back in front at 58-57, and then a similar driving layup by Owies gave the Warriors a 60-57 lead with 5:27 remaining.
Back-to-back baskets by Stepteau increased the Warriors’ lead to 64-59. Owies then helped seal the win with another driving layup on offense, and then drawing a charging foul on defense with 2:32 remaining.
The Warriors went 8 for 8 from the free-throw line n the final 33 seconds to secure the win.
Darin Johnson led CSUN with 27 points, and Kendall Smith added 15 points and six assists.
More details will be posted, as it becomes available.
(Game photo courtesy Warren Haraki)
Noah Allen rallies this team tonight! 34 pts. Big time! Congrats to the team!
SO proud of this team! A road sweep against 2 of the better teams in the conference? Who would have thought! Some thoughts…
-Noah Allen is a STUD. This dude came to PLAY today and there was NO stopping him! He carried this game, no question. No other player on the team was double digits in points.
-Matt Owies was huge! I love that kid, to come off the bench and make that kind of impact. Love his confidence and overall efforts.
-Stepteau was clutch…he was everything you want in a point guard in the final minutes of a close game. He made plays, made free throws, made the right plays when it mattered.
-Purchase, despite his 3 not being as accurate as usual still made a big difference on the boards. Same as the previous game, and it’s really being a difference maker in games.
For the rest of the team, I think everyone is locked in and contributing however they can. The boys have really stepped up their game as of late and an overall winning record is looking likely. Let’s GO BOWS!!
Jack had 9 pts, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Zigmars had 6 pts and 4 rebounds.
I am impressed. After some heartbreaking, and seeming downward spiral of the team, they have their last 3 in a row. Any road sweep, especially taking down Riverside who beat them here, and One of the most talented, yet not as disciplined in half court play, CSUN, if that NCAA restores, post season play this year for the Bows…you know what? Noah Allen playing like a UCLA recruit, a level above the Big West 3 spot guys, Brocke Stepteau, a Benjy Taylor/ Gib invited walkon..starting PG.. the best one they have, even little Matt Owies…No scared em.. Gibson Johnson, “the Old Man” YMCA moves.. Purchase hitting some dagger 3’s, and Leland Green now playing like a seasoned Sophomore, and Ido and Zigmar, just banging and playing some physical post play.. This Team.. I Will say it.. if that Darn NCAA post season Ban is lifted.. UH they go in at 3 or 4 seed or better, They can win the BWC and go to NCAA’s, the team is smart, well coached, they like each other.. AND IF NOAH ALLEN IS PLAYING LIKE A STARTER ON A PAC12 team that talent is now unleashed, UH is the frontrunner, they should be able to sweep their last 3 home games and a real shot at sweeping their last 4 road games.. They have improved so much.. Not unless UC Davis… has gotten better, or Irvine, which has slipped,.. the BEST team in the league at home or ON the road now? in the Big West Now? UH Rainbow Warriors,…I give Eran credit,.. great coaching.. now if he can recruit talent, like Leland Green, Noah Allen, a a stretch Big like Janks..an athlete/athletes like Aaron Valdes, Quincy Smith, and Rod Bobbitt..Next couple of years. if NCAA restores the scholarships, which I bet they will do, JUST before the BWC tournament this March.. Eran has my vote for BWC coach of the year again.. and All of those other national awards.. I am Greatly Impressed,..This year I watch with super critical eye.. however, the effort, no bitiching, no drama, the guys like themseleves.. and ESPECIALLY if Noah Allen can average 20ppg, 8 rbg 2 steals, 45% from field, 40% from the 3 line, and 85 % from FT line in cruch time…make great decisions, and help finish close games, HE IS THE LEADER.. DAMN.. We only Have him for ONE year !! ERAN, .. suggestion.. put a video out on the lilites of Noah Allen.. and send that Video. to DI grad student from Duke, NC, Villanova, Florida St.,
UCLA, Gonzaga, wherever.. I bet 2 or three grad students with DI elite skills that did not make it at their DI schools and have ONE more year, left.. NEXT year.. you are locked in solid..I PREDICT this year.. UH gets NCAA to restore Post Season Ban, returns 2 scholarships..a great 6’11” 240 4/5 stretch big, and an athletic 6’5″ 225 wing and another 6’8″ Gibson Johnson, Mormon Mission, 26 year old with the YMCA moves.. Good job Aaron.. you can just see the fear of the other teams.. .the video breakdown on how to shut down your offensive sets.. they have not a clue…
Hey get your tickets or money saved for the Honda Center in Anaheim.. I was wrong.. I loved and still do Brandy, he brought Fotu, and Benjy who brougt Isaac Fleming who helped knock off mighty Pitt …and Gib for a whole list of great athletes.. which Eran inherited ,. and taught them.. NOW Eran’s boys.. and ONE walkon left over from the previous regime,.. the connection to the Gib era.. who is the starting guard so smart , so fearless.. and ready alond with Noah to take UH to the NCAA March Madness Dance !
I AM A TRUE BELIEVER.. Eran you got me as a fan for life !!
🙂