For a team that relishes challenges, the biggest one of the regular season has arrived.
Hawai’i plays host to Big West Conference co-leader UC Irvine on Saturday in a key league showdown in SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live statewide on Spectrum Sports Channel 12, and will air live on radio via ESPN Honolulu 1420AM.
The Warriors enter the game at 14-11 overall and 6-8 in league play, good for sole possession of seventh place, coming off Thursday night’s 62-60 home victory over Long Beach State. The Anteaters are 21-4 and 11-2, tied for first place with UC San Diego (21-4, 11-2).
In the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 25, UC Irvine ran out to an 11-0 lead and won at home, 71-55.
“Irvine is coming in here as probably one of the top rebounding teams in the country, and one of the best defensive teams in the country,” UH coach Eran Ganot said. “They’re very deep, they have size, they have experience. Their pedigree is there. It’s a great challenge.”
Ganot said one key for the Warriors will be a strong start.
“We spotted them 11 (on the road), and it was kind of close the rest of the way,” Ganot said. “There’s (six) games left, that’s (30) percent of the season. It creates a lot, there’s a lot at stake for each team, for each game, and that’s a great thing. We’re blessed to be able to play.”
The Anteaters are coming off a home victory over UC Santa Barbara, ironically by the same 62-60 score as Hawai’i’s win.
Devin Tellis led UCI with a game-high 22 points — including the game-winning jumper at the buzzer — and added eight rebounds, while Myles Che contributed 13 points.
Big West Conference Standings
UC Irvine 11-2
UC San Diego 11-2
Cal State Northridge 9-4
UC Davis 9-5
UC Riverside 9-5
UC Santa Barbara 8-6
HAWAI’I 6-8
Cal State Bakersfield 4-10
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 4-9
Long Beach State 3-11
Cal State Fullerton 1-13