In its final game of 2025, the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team will go back to the future on Saturday when it faces old Western Athletic Conference rival Texas-El Paso in nonconference action.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in BankOh Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center, and the game will be shown live statewide on Spectrum Sports Channel 12 and broadcast live via radio on ESPN 1420AM.
The game renews a rivalry from the late 1980’s, ’90’s and early 2000’s that early on featured legendary coach Don “Bear” Haskins and eventual NBA All-Star point guard Tim Hardaway.
This time around the Miners come in at 3-5 after a 75-69 loss at Seattle U. on Dec. 7. The Warriors, meanwhile, are 9-2 which is their best start since the NCAA Tournament season of 2015-16. Hawai’i ranks in the Top 25 nationally in eight different categories, including 13th in scoring defense (63.3 points per game) and 10th in 3-point goal defense (26.3 percent).
UTEP ranks No. 19 in turnovers forced (16.5 per game) while the Warriors average 13.9 turnovers per game, ranking No. 291 in that dubious category. UH committed only six turnovers in Wednesday’s 98-46 home victory over Hawai’i-Hilo.
“It’s a mini-breakthrough, and hopefully it leads to bigger breakthroughs,” Warriors coach Eran Ganot said, referring to the team’s improved offensive performance. “But that is a step, if we want to get to where we want to be, we want to stay effective where we’re being effective … we gotta make those breakthroughs.”