Warrior Insider

Jack Purchase scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Sheriff Drammeh added 14 points tonight to help Hawai’i hold off visiting UC Davis, 77-72, and move into sole possession of first place in Big West Conference men’s basketball.

A vocal Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 6,581 watched Gibson Johnson and Leland Green each add 11 points as the Warriors improved to 13-5 overall and 4-1 in the Big West. fell to 12-7, 3-2. Cal State Fullerton, which had entered the evening in first place at 4-1, fell at Long Beach State, 81-73.

UH broke a 39-39 tie early in the second half with a 10-0 run capped by Mike Thomas’ layup with 14 minutes to play, but UC Davis chipped away and eventually drew to 63-60 on Chima Monk’s finger roll with 1:44 remaining.

But Green answered with a 3-pointer from the left wing 23 seconds later, and Johnson added a three-point play to make it 75-67 with 28.8 ticks left. The Aggies later closed it to 75-72 after AJ John’s deep 3-pointer from the top of the key and Siler Schneider’s layup off a baseline drive with 14.7 seconds remaining.

But Purchase sank two free throws two second later to effectively seal the victory.

The Warriors will conclude their four-game home stand on January 27, when they host Cal State Fullerton.

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

(Game photo courtesy Chris Kadooka)

Big West Conference
Saturday’s Results
at UC Santa Barbara 70, UC Irvine 58
at CSUN 72, Cal Poly 54
at Long Beach State 81, Cal State Fullerton 73
at Hawai’i 77, UC Davis 72