Warriors rally past Pacific, 72-67
Zigmars Raimo scored the go-ahead layup with 45 seconds remaining and Eddie Stansberry sealed the victory with four free throws in the final 20 seconds to help Hawai’i rally past Pacific, 72-67, tonight in the final game of the 55th Annual Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic.
A thrilled crowd of about 3,200 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Stansberry finish with a career-high 26 points and Drew Buggs add 13 points and four assists as the Warriors improved to 2-1. Amari McCray scored 16 points and Justin Moore added 14 points for the Tigers, who fell to 2-2.
Hawaii led a tightly contested first half 35-33, but Pacific opened the second half with a 16-7 run and led, 49-42, after Jeremiah Bailey’s mid-range jumper with 12:24 remaining.
The Warriors clawed back and closed it to 56-54 after Buggs capped an 8-2 run with a mid-range jumper from the right side with 6:12 left. But the Tigers responded with a 6-0 run and Daniss Jenkins’ two free throws pushed the lead back to 62-54 with 4:17 remaining.
Stansberry answered with a 3-pointer from the right corner 17 seconds later, and then Samuta Avea drained a 3-pointer from the left wing with 2:17 remaining to close it to 62-60. Stansberry then swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key and was fouled on the fadeaway, sinking the free throw to put UH ahead, 64-62 with 1:36 left.
Justin Moore tied it back up at 64-64 with two free throws 18 seconds later, but the Warriors took back the lead on Raimo’s layup off Buggs’ driving assist with 45 seconds remaining.
On the ensuing possession, Buggs and Mate Colina trapped Moore near the halfcourt line and forced a turnover, with Buggs chasing the loose ball to the Hawai’i baseline and calling timeout with 22.4 seconds left. Stansberry then dropped two free throws to push the lead to 68-64 with 20.5 seconds remaining, but Bailey rattled in a 3-pointer from the left corner to close it to 68-67 with 7.2 ticks showing on the clock.
However, Pacific coach Damon Stoudamire immediately called a timeout despite the Tigers having none remaining, and Stansberry swished the two technical fouls to make it 70-67, and the Warriors retained possession. Buggs was then fouled and sealed the victory with two free throws with 6.4 seconds left.
More details, including video highlights and interviews, will be posted later.
Glad to see Holland get significant playing time. I did not understand why he bairly played in the last two games.
Owen Hulland out indefinitely (several months +/-; got to rehab properly this time to not worsen / re-injure);
Freshman guard Justin Webster may be available as soon as Friday versus Portland State; Probably NEED him against Illinois on the road; although Kameran Ng is coming along like a future fan favorite; and faster-than-even-Brock (Stepteau or Aaron Valdės walk-on-turn Impact-Player 😉
Significant Minutes for Matė ‘could’ keep climbing; he lead team +12 when he was in game versus Pacific…coaches noticed;
Eddie’s Improvement over the three game tourney is the kind of Step-Up Leadership i look for from Senior LEADERSHIP… Zigmars making key lead-capturing baskets AND Plugging away the Whole Game against Bigger, More physically-gifted front lines is the kind of toughness that anchors a young team growing through a break-out development season. And still, (because I believe there is More to You than we have Yet Seen, Zig)… I Suspect Zig WILL (And Coach WILL DRAW More from) Step up More…
After Early-Season FIrst Gut-Check @Illini next Monday, (Brilliant Scheduling, Eran, no matter what schedule Boo-Birds think, Ferd…) there are several weeks of hard team practices with periodic game-checks including Road-Game Mid-Term versus OU-Ducks leading into the Diamond Head Classic pre-Big West coming-out-party…
Watch, this young talented team learn and develop… kinda like entering Phase Two….
[p.s. Warrior Insider still Rocks …]