When the Hawai’i men’s basketball players think back to “Last Christmas” in 2025, the memories will be fond.
In their final Yuletide appearance in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, the Warriors went out in style with a thrilling 73-70 overtime victory against Oakland in the Christmas Day third-place game. A vocal and appreciative crowd of 2,074 in SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center watched senior forward Gytis Nemeiksa score a career-high 25 points and grab 11 rebounds, and junior forward Harry Rouhliadeff add 15 points — including the go-ahead tip-in putback with 46 seconds remaining in OT — as UH improved to 8-4.
Deep-shooting artist Malcolm Christie poured in a game-high 27 points — including seven 3-pointers and two four-point plays — and Tuburu Naivalurua added 13 points for the Golden Grizzlies, who fell to 4-9.
After Rouhliadeff’s tip-in, Oakland’s Jaylen Jones missed a challenged layup at the other end and Warriors guard Marcus Greene was fouled with 18 seconds left. Greene swished the first attempt of the two-shot bonus, but missed the second to put the score at 73-70.
Christie’s 3-point attempt glanced off the rim and was rebounded by Jones, who launched a 3 from the left corner, but Nemeiksa blocked the shot and grabbed the rebound as time expired, setting off a merry celebration.
“Awesome win, that was a great game to be a part of,” Hawai’i coach Eran Ganot said. “We’re fortunate, it could have gone either way, but it felt like a program win. Third game in four days … plays being made (on) both sides, also fatigue being felt on both sides, but as a result of just incredible effort. We have so much respect for their staff and their program. You can see the potential of their team moving forward … (they are) really challenging offensively and defensively, tough to prepare for in a quick turnaround.
“They have size inside and guards with experience, and snipers from deep.”
After trading baskets for most of the first half, the Warriors used an 11-0 run started by Ryan Rapp’s putback and capped by Tanner Christensen’s free throws with 1:02 remaining to flip a 23-21 deficit into a 32-23 lead.
But just three and a half minutes into the second half, Christensen — UH’s starting center — was whistled for his third foul and headed to the bench. The Warriors still led, 40-34, after Rouhliadeff’s free throws with 12:44 remaining, but Christie answered quickly with back-to-back 3-pointers. He was fouled on the second one, and converted his second four-point play to put the Golden Grizzlies ahead, 41-40.
Christensen responded with a big reverse slam dunk, but Oakland struck back with a 13-4 run started by Jayson Woodrich’s 3-pointer from the right corner and capped by Jones’ fadeaway jumper to make it 54-46 with 7:46 left.
“Obviously they came (out) tougher in the second half,” Nemeiksa said. “They were making tough 3’s. We needed the same energy as the first half.”
Much of the second-half energy came from Rouhliadeff, who started a 10-0 surge with a putback, and Rapp, who closed it it out with a 3-pointer from the left corner to put Hawai’i back out in front, 56-54, with 5:30 remaining.
The teams then traded backets until the end of regulation, with Naivalarua putting the Golden Grizzlies up, 64-62, on a reverse layup with 27 seconds left and Christensen tying it again by converting two free throws with 4.8 ticks on the clock.
Oakland turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds pass, giving the Warriors a chance to win it. But Rapp’s crosscourt inbounds pass was intercepted by Woodrich as time expired.
In overtime, after Rapp and Christie traded 3-point goals to tie it at 70-70, Rouhliadeff finally broke the tie for good on the tip-in with 46 seconds remaining.
All Tournament Team
Berke Buyuktuncel, Nebraska
Demarco Minor, Oregon State
GYTIS NEMEIKSA, HAWAI’I
Deywilk Tavarez, College of Charleston
Most Outstanding Player: Brice Willliams, Nebraska