Slow start, cold finish dooms Hawai’i at UC Irvine

Inconsistency is a killer. 

The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team stumbled again on Saturday night, shooting a season-worst 31.1% from the field and falling at UC Irvine, 71-55. UCI guard Myles Che led all scorers, pouring in 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting while handing out five assists in the win for the first-place Anteaters. 

Akira Jacobs was the lone Rainbow Warrior to finish in double figures, totaling 12 points and five rebounds in the loss. The 6-foot-10 sophomore forward also dished out a career-high three assists while playing 30 minutes for just the second time this season. Senior guard Marcus Greene added eight points in 29 minutes, the most action he’s seen since playing 32 minutes in Hawai’i’s Christmas Day overtime victory against Oakland, and was the only player for UH to not contribute to the team’s 15 turnovers. 

The loss for Hawai’i (12-8, 4-5 Big West) marked the sixth consecutive time that Rainbow Warriors have failed to win at Irvine, last beating the Anteaters inside the Bren Events Center back in February of 2018. UH has lost by an average margin of 16.5 points in those six meetings, only keeping within single digits once in the span. 

Coming off their first loss in over a month, UC Irvine (18-3, 8-1 Big West) was determined from the opening tip as they forced three early turnovers and scored the first 11 points of the game. Following an early timeout from head coach Eran Ganot, Hawai’i tried to respond as Gytis Nemeikša got the team on the board and Jacobs calmly drilled a left-wing 3-pointer for a mini run before UCI guards Justin Hohn and Myles Che found the touch on their jumpers to make it 18-5 in favor of the hosts. 

The Rainbow Warrior offense started to find some success as the half ticked down, trading baskets with UC Irvine and eventually pulling back within single digits with Marcus Greene’s first make from distance. Jacobs split a pair of free throws afterwards to make it a 26-19 deficit for UH with 4:57 left in the half, but that was the closest Hawai’i could get before the break as the Anteaters closed the half strong and went into the break leading by 10. 

Things did not get off to a much better start in the second half as starting center Tanner Christensen, who played two of the game’s first 20 minutes after picking up a pair of fast fouls, got tagged with his third just two minutes after the break and went right back to the bench. UCI capitalized again, seeing Myles Che drill two 3-pointers as the Anteaters’ lead expanded to 15 with 14:49 left in regulation. 

Hawai’i would not let go of the rope, roaring back after a timeout with 3-pointers from Harry Rouhliadeff and Marcus Greene before Aaron Hunkin-Claytor capped off the 14-3 run from the Rainbow Warriors to make it a four-point game with 10 minutes to play. The Anteaters had the answer again as Justin Hohn connected on consecutive triples to push the UCI lead back up to double figures, 54-44. 

Another dry spell offensively for Hawai’i put the nail in the coffin, seeing UC Irvine extend the lead to 15 before trading a few baskets at the end of the game with the result decided already. A layup from Hunkin-Claytor with 2:45 cut the deficit to 10, but Hawai’i would not make another field goal as the Anteaters’ defense had the offense in a vice grip all game. 

Justin Hohn added 13 points and handed out five assists in the win for UC Irvine while star center Bent Leuchten had a calm eight points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes of action. Saturday was the 21st straight home win for the Anteaters. 

Despite dealing with heavy foul trouble, Tanner Christensen was able to chip in seven points, six rebounds and a block in a season-low 13 minutes of work. Freshman guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor enjoyed a nice game, producing six points, three boards and a couple of dimes in 16 minutes off the bench. 

Hawai’i will look to put the rough road trip behind them next Thursday, January 30 when UC San Diego comes to the Stan Sheriff Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. HT.