Bench, defense help Hawai’i hold down hot Cal State Fullerton

HONOLULU – Depth and defense are becoming calling cards.

The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team completed a perfect Bold Week in the program’s final go-around in the Big West, holding down a high-powered Cal State Fullerton squad to a season low in points on Saturday night, 69-59.

The Rainbow Warriors finished with at least four players in double figures for the third time this year while seven of the nine players that saw time ended up with at least six points.

UH’s defense put on another impressive showing, this time against the nation’s 37th-best scoring offense as Cal State Fullerton (3-7, 0-2 Big West) shot a season-worst 3-for-19 from long range and 34% overall from the field against the Rainbow Warriors. The Titans entered the evening averaging 88.4 points per game, the most among Big West teams so far this season.

“This game was won defensively and on the boards,” head coach Eran Ganot stated postgame. “That’s a credit to our guys.”

Gytis Nemeikša led the way for Hawai’i (8-2, 2-0 Big West) with his first double-double of the year, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. UH won the rebounding battle, 50-37, as six different players ripped down at least five boards for a season high on the glass as a team.

Harry Rouhliadeff chipped in 12 points and five boards for the Rainbow Warriors while Ike Finlinson added another 11 points off the pine on a perfect 5-of-5 showing from the field.

Hawai’i pulled out to a 22-10 lead through 12 minutes of play, holding the Titans to 4-of-23 shooting from the field while drawing five fouls against the visitors. Dre Bullock and Harry Rouhliadeff took turns hitting threes from the top of the key to combat a small CSUF run, putting UH up 14 with just under 4 minutes left in the first half.

“Today was probably kind of an ugly game, to be honest,” head coach Eran Ganot said after the win. “That’s kind of league, too. I loved the way we came out of the gates again, that’s been a real hallmark for us.”

After scoring just 17 points through the first 17 minutes of the opening half, Cal State Fullerton’s offense showed signs of life to close the frame with eight points in a two-minute stretch before the break. Gytis Nemeikša provided the punch back, drilling two triples of his own in the final 1:54 to send the Rainbow Warriors into the locker room leading 39-25.

UH successfully hunted open looks from distance through the opening 20 minutes, setting a season-high for made triples in a half with an 8-for-21 performance from beyond the arc.

Isaac Johnson reignited the Bankoh Arena crowd when play resumed, hammering down a tip slam to keep the Rainbow Warriors up double figures through the first five minutes of action after halftime.

Cal State Fullerton made another push midway through the second half, pulling within six with 11:22 to play after Landon Seamon drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Seamon led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting off the bench in the loss for the Titans.

Hawai’i’s defense clicked back into full gear down the stretch, pushing the advantage back into double figures to claim the team’s fourth straight win, 69-59.

Bryce Cofield scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in the loss for Cal State Fullerton. Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro chipped in 10 points and five rebounds while dealing with foul woes throughout the night for the Titans.

Aaron Hunkin-Claytor was the fourth and final Rainbow Warrior in double digits, scoring 10 points and pulling down five boards to go along with a steal and a block in 23 minutes. Dre Bullock tagged on eight points and nine rebounds and finished as a team-high plus-10 despite struggling with his shot, going 3-for-12 from the floor and 2-of-8 from distance.

Hawai’i will try for a season-best fifth consecutive win when they return to the floor next Wednesday, hosting the University of Hawai’i-Hilo inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. HT.