Warrior Insider

The University of Hawai’i basketball team will try to maintain momentum this Friday, when it hosts Portland State in another early-season test.

The Rainbow Warriors improved to 2-1 with a gritty 72-67 victory over Pacific on Monday. The Vikings are 1-1 after an 85-74 road loss at traditional power Indiana last week.

Friday’s game is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hawai’i rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final five minutes in the win over Pacific. Senior guard Eddie Stansberry scored a career-high 26 points to lead the Warriors.

Through the first three games of this season, Stansberry is averaging 17.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Junior forward Samuta Avea is adding 12.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and leads the team with 10 3-pointers.

Junior point guard Drew Buggs is contributing 11.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Senior forward Zigmars Raimo is averaging 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and sophomore center Dawson Carper is at 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.

Those five players (Buggs, Stansberry at guards, Avea and Raimo at forwards, and Carper at center) have been the starters for all three games.

The main reserves so far have been sophomore forward Justin Hemsley, freshman guard Kameron Ng, freshman forward Bernardo da Silva and sophomore center Mate Colina.

Hawai’i played its first three games without head coach Eran Ganot, who has been away from the team since November 6 due to an undisclosed medical leave of absence. Assistant coach Chris Gerlufsen will remain the acting head coach (there is no timetable for Ganot’s return).

Portland State opened its season with a 94-69 home win over Puget Sound, a NCAA Division III program. The Vikings finished 16-16 last season, and were picked to finish sixth (out of 11 teams) in this year’s  Big Sky Conference Preseason Poll.

The Vikings are led by Holland Woods, a 6-foot-1 junior guard who scored 27 points in the loss at Indiana. He averaged 15.0 points and 5.3 assists per game last season, and was one of six players named to this year’s All-Big Sky Conference Preseason Team.

Matt Hauser, a 6-2 senior guard, scored 21 points in the loss at Indiana. Portland State usually goes with a relatively small lineup – Woods, Hauser and 6-3 Chris Whitaker at guards, and 6-6 Alonzo Walker and 6-8 Sal Nuhu at forwards.

HAWAI’I (2-1, 0-0 Big West) vs. PORTLAND STATE (1-1, 0-0 Big Sky)
When: Friday, November 15, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) – Honolulu, HI
Television: Live on Spectrum Sports – Channels 16 (SD) and 1016 (HD).
Streaming Video: BigWest.TV (Must be a Spectrum cable subscriber to stream in Hawai’i).
Radio: Live on ESPN Honolulu (1420 AM/92.7 FM), KRKH (Maui), KPUA (Hawai’i Island), and KTOH (Kaua’i).
Audio Webcast: ESPNHonolulu.com/Sideline Hawai’i App.
Live Stats: HawaiiAthletics.com
Ticket Information: Lower level – $32; Upper level (prices vary by section) – $22 or $18 for adults, $18 or $15 for senior citizens, $8 or $5 for students. Free for UH Manoa students with ID. Parking is $7.
Special discounts: UH season-ticket holders in any UH sport will receive 50% off select adult tickets (maximum of eight). A valid identification card is required when purchasing tickets at the Stan Sheriff Center. Tickets are in special sections and supplies are limited. Other restrictions may apply.
Promotions: First Insurance Company of Hawaii is the sponsor and will distribute 600 mini teddy bears at Gate A. Great prizes will be awarded throughout the night. Sign up for the chance to win at the sports marketing table at Gate A.