Warriors get a dramatic road win at CSUN, 75-74
Biwali Bayles banked in a 3-pointer with 21.1 seconds remaining and the shot clock winding down to give the University of Hawai’i basketball team a dramatic 75-74 road victory over CSUN on Friday at The Matadome in Northridge, Calif.
The Rainbow Warriors led by as many as 14 in the first half, and were ahead by 12 with less than five minutes remaining before the Matadors rallied to make it exciting in the final minute.
Junior Madut led the Warriors with a season-high 23 points, including 16 in the second half, to lead five Hawai’i players in double-figure scoring. Bayles contributed 12 points, James Jean-Marie had 11 points and seven rebounds, Noel Coleman scored 10 and Casdon Jardine contributed 10 points and five rebounds for the Warriors.
Hawai’i snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 8-7 overall and 6-7 in the Big West Conference. The Warriors remain in sixth place with five regular-season games remaining. The Matadors dropped to 7-9 overall and are in ninth place (out of 10 teams) in the Big West at 3-6.
The teams will meet again on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (2:00 p.m. Hawai’i). The game will be streamed live on ESPN3.com.
Bayles’ 3-pointer came moments after CSUN went on a 9-0 run, and took a short-lived 74-72 lead on a 3-pointer by TJ Starks with 48 seconds remaining. Starks finished with 31 points, including 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range. His last 3 gave CSUN its first lead since the opening minute of the game.
After Bayles’ go-ahead 3 on the ensuing possession, CSUN had the ball for the final 21 seconds. Starks had a driving attempt in the lane blocked out of bounds by Hawai’i center Mate Colina with 8.3 seconds remaining. Starks then missed another jumper from the baseline that was contested by Madut just before the final horn sounded.
Madut shot 8 for 15 from the field, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and also grabbed six rebounds.
The Warriors raced to a 10-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game and controlled the first half. They led by as many as 14 (26-12), with Jean-Marie scoring nine points on 4-of-5 shooting early in the game.
The Matadors went on a 20-7 surge late in the half to cut the Hawai’i lead to 33-32. The Warriors eventually took a 36-34 lead into halftime.
Madut drained two 3-pointers during a 10-2 surge for Hawai’i to open the second half that stretched the lead back to double-digits at 46-36. Bayles was also a key contributor in the second half, shooting 3 for 4 from the field, including 2 for 2 on 3-pointers.
The Warriors shot 43.1 percent from the field (28 for 65), while limiting the Matadors to 37.1 percent (26 for 70).
Sophomore guard Justin Webster, Hawai’i’s leading scorer entering the game, went scoreless on 0 for 5 shooting in the first half. He did not play in the second half for undisclosed reasons.
Friday’s Results
Hawai’i 75, at CSUN 74
at Long Beach State 64, Cal Poly 60
*UC Riverside 81, at UC San Diego 75
UC Irvine 89, at Cal State Fullerton 78
at UC Santa Barbara 71, CSU Bakersfield 66
Saturday’s Games
Hawai’i at CSUN, 4:00 p.m. PT
Cal Poly at Long Beach State, 4:00 p.m. PT
*UC Riverside at UC San Diego, 5:00 p.m. PT
UC Irvine at Cal State Fullerton, 5:00 p.m. PT
CSU Bakersfield at UC Santa Barbara, 7:00 p.m. PT
*Non-conference game
Way to keep composure Bows! Let’s get another W today!