Still trying to shake the turnover bug, Hawai’i hung tough but eventually fell short at UC Santa Barbara, 76-72, in Big West Conference men’s basketball action Saturday night.
An announced crowd of 2,109 at The Thunderdome watched Deuce Turner score 23 points as the Gauchos improved to 16-8 overall and 8-5 in league play. Senior center Tanner Christensen scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds and senior guard Ryan Rapp added 18 points for the Warriors, who fell to 13-11, 5-8 after their second straight loss and fifth in six outings.
UH trailed 72-70 with 20 seconds remaining when its inbound pass near halfcourt from Tom Beattie to Harry Rouhliadeff was poked away from behind by Stephan Swenson before Rouhliadeff could secure it, resulting in the Warriors’ 20th turnover. After Swenson converted two free throws to make it 74-70, Christensen scored on a layup and was fouled with 11 ticks left, but missed the free throw and the Gauchos grabbed the rebound.
Two more free throws made it 76-72, and Rapp’s 3-point attempt missed at the other end with UCSB grabbing the rebound as time expired.
“With all those things we talk about, there is one issue — it’s the turnovers,” Hawai’i coach Eran Ganot said in a postgame radio interview. “Usually we’re good defensively, we take people out of point-of-attack, make it difficult, we’re good on the glass and we take care of the ball — but not at this level. I’m a little fired up because we wasted some good performances in some other areas. But we’re stuck in mud if we want to break through.
“But I’m going to continue to believe, and we’re going to continue to work. “
It was a back-and-forth game that featured 12 lead changes and was tied 11 times. Beattie’s tip-in gave UH an early 7-5 lead, but Cole Anderson tied it with a jumper to ignite a 15-0 run capped by Turner’s 3-pointer which put the Gauchos in front, 20-7, with 11:31 remaining in the first half.
Kody Williams then drained a 3-pointer to start a stunning 19-2 surge by the Warriors, culminating in Rapp’s 3-pointer to give Hawai’i a 26-22 lead with 5:44 left on the clock.
But Jason Fontenet II answered with a 3-pointer to start a 17-10 run to close out the half with a 39-32 lead.
The Warriors then put together a 23-10 surge to start the second half, with Williams’ two free throws putting Hawai’i ahead, 55-52, with 10:27 remaining in the game.
It was tight the rest of the way, mostly a one-possession score, until the final seconds.
The Warriors return home for their next game, against Long Beach State on Thursday.
Big West Conference Standings
UC Irvine 10-2
UC San Diego 10-2
UC Riverside 9-4
Cal State Northridge 9-4
UC Davis 8-5
UC Santa Barbara 8-5
HAWAI’I 5-8
Cal State Bakersfield 4-9
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 3-9
Long Beach State 3-10
Cal State Fullerton 1-12