Warrior Insider

Noel Coleman scored 19 points Samuta Avea scored 17 points tonight to help Hawai’i rally past UC San Diego, 69-62, in more exciting Big West Conference men’s basketball action.

A late-awakening but ultimately vocal crowd of 3,030 in  SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center watched JoVon McClanahan add 11 points as the Warriors improved to 18-7 overall and 9-4 in league play. Francis Nwaokorie scored a game-high 25 points and Jake Kosakowski added 12 points for the Tritons, who fell to 8-17 and 3-10.

Hawai’i is now tied with Long Beach State for third place with seven games remaining. UC Santa Barbara (10-2) remains in first place, followed by UC Irvine (9-3).

UC San Diego jumped out to a stunning 17-5 lead in the first six minutes, before Coleman hit a 3 to ignite a 16-7 lead capped by Kody Williams’ 3-pointer from the left wing to close it to 24-21 with six minutes remaining. The Tritons held the lead, however, and were up, 35-29 at the half.

It was only after UH put together a 15-1 run early in the second half that the Warriors finally took the lead, and UC San Diego got as close as 60-58 on Jace Roquemore’s 3-pointer with two minutes left. But Avea drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key 25 seconds later, and the Tritons could not get closer than four points after that.   

Freshman walk-on Kody Williams played a significant role in the win for the Warriors. He scored six points, including a driving layup that gave Hawai’i its first lead of the game at 39-38 with 12:46 remaining in the second half.

The Warriors will remain at home for another BWC game on Saturday against Cal State Fullerton.

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

Big West Conference
Thursday’s Results
at UC Riverside 72, UC Davis 65
at UC Irvine 55, Cal Poly 54
at CSU Bakersfield 73, CSUN 58
UC Santa Barbara 75, Long Beach State 72
at Hawai’i 69, UC San Diego 62