Warrior Insider

The University of Hawai’i basketball team is inching its way to the top of the Big West Conference standings. Cal State Fullerton is inching its way to the lead pack of the BWC. Only of them can continue progressing on Saturday.

The Rainbow Warriors will host the Titans in a crucial game for positioning in the conference standings on Saturday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The game is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. and will be televised in Hawai’i on Spectrum Sports. Video streaming is available outside of Hawai’i via ESPN+.

Hawai’i is 18-7 overall and tied for third place in the BWC at 9-4. Fullerton is 13-12 overall and in seventh place at 7-6.

The teams have already met once this season, with the Titans prevailing, 79-72, in overtime at Fullerton, Calif. The Warriors need to avenge that loss to keep first-place UC Santa Barbara (10-2) and second-place UC Irvine (9-3), within striking distance.

Hawai’i is coming off a tougher-than-expected 69-62 home win over UC San Diego on Thursday. The Warriors trailed by as many as 12 in the first half before rallying past the ninth-place Tritons in the second half.

Hawai’i head coach Eran Ganot praised the Warriors’ defense for the second-half turnaround. Hawai’i will again have to step up defensively against a Fullerton team that consistently attacked the basket in the previous meeting.

The Titans rely on a four-guard lineup: 6-foot-1 Jalen Harris, 6-3 Lattrell Wrightsell Jr., 6-3 Tory San Antonio and 6-5 Max Jones. They took turns driving to the rim in the first game against the Warriors. As a result, Fullerton went 33 for 41 on free throws. No other opponent has attempted more than 28 free throws against Hawai’i this season.

Harris led the Titans with 24 points against Hawai’i. Wrightsell is the team’s top player for the season, averaging 16.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He also ranks second in the Big West with 55 3-pointers.

Hawai’i remains heavily reliant on its starting five: Noel Coleman (13.5 points per game, 42 3-pointers), Kamaka Hepa (11.3 points, 6.6 rebounds per game, 51 3-pointers), JoVon McClanahan (10.8 points, 3.2 assists per game), Samuta Avea (10.2 points, 4.2 blocked shots).

Da Silva had 18 points and seven rebounds in the loss at Fullerton, but was one of two Warriors to foul out (Beon Riley was the other).

In Thursday’s win over UC San Diego, freshmen Kody Williams and Harry Rouhliadeff provided unanticipated contributions off the bench. Williams, who scored six total points for the season prior to this week, had six points against UCSD, including the go-ahead layup midway through the second half. Rouhliadeff, who scored four points in his previous 12 appearances, added eight points against the Tritons.

The Warriors have a career record of 15-7 against the Titans, including 8-3 in games played in Honolulu.

HAWAI’I (18-7 overall, 9-4 Big West) vs. CAL STATE FULLERTON (13-12, 7-6)
When: Saturday, February 11, 7:00 p.m. Hawai’I Time
Where: SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
TV: Spectrum Sports (channels 12/1012 in Hawai’i)
Streaming video: ESPN+ (blacked out in Hawai’i)
Radio/audio streaming: ESPN Honolulu (92.7 FM, 1420 AM, espnhonolulu.com, Sideline Hawaii app)
Tickets: eTicketHawaii.com
Autographs: The Hawai’i players and coaches will be signing autographs on the concourse level, approximately 15 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

Saturday’s Games
Cal Poly at CSUN
Long Beach State at CSU Bakersfield
UC Davis at UC Santa Barbara
UC Riverside at UC Irvine
Cal State Fullerton at Hawai’i