Warriors break through for road win at Long Beach State, 77-70
Brocke Stepteau scored 23 points to lead the University of Hawai’i to a 77-70 road win over Long Beach State on Thursday night at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif.
The Rainbow Warriors improved to 14-8 overall and moved into a tie for third place in the Big West Conference at 5-3. The 49ers dropped to 8-16 and 2-6 with their second loss to Hawai’i this season.
The victory marked a breakthrough for the Warriors, as they had previously been 0-6 against the 49ers in Big West games at the Pyramid.
Stepteau connected on 5 of 6 3-point attempts, and also was a perfect 8 for 8 on free throws. Jack Purchase added 17 points and shot 5 for 8 from 3-point range, and Zigmars Raimo had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Warriors. Drew Buggs, who is from Long Beach, contributed seven points and seven assists.
Led by Stepteau and Purchase, the Warriors tied a school record with 14 3-pointers.
Deishuan Booker, Long Beach’s leading scorer, was limited to 11 points. Temidayo Yussuf led the 49ers with 18 points.
The Warriors will remain on the road for a showdown with first-place UC Irvine on Saturday.
More details will be posted as it becomes available.
(Game photo courtesy Shane Rodrigues)
