Rebounding falters late as Hawai’i comes up short at Oregon

Rebounding falters late as Hawai’i comes up short at Oregon

Nov 4, 2025

Hawaii guard Hunter Erickson, right, drives past Oregon forward Kwame Evans Jr. as the Oregon Ducks host the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Nov. 4, 2025, at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon. | Photo Credit: Ben Lonergan/The Reg | 2025 Nov 4

Rebounding falters late as Hawai’i comes up short at Oregon

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 4, 2025

One more rebound was all they needed.

The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team fought hard on the road to open the 2025-26 regular season, erasing 14-point second half deficit and holding a one-point advantage in the final seconds before ultimately falling against the University of Oregon in Eugune, 60-59. Takai Simpkins led the way for the Ducks, pouring in a game-best 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting and hitting the game-winning layup with 4.3 seconds left in regulation.

Isaac Johnson paced the Rainbow Warriors in scoring as the only player for the visitors to finish in double figures, racking up 13 points, eight rebounds, three steals and a block before fouling out with five minutes remaining. The former Duck made a major impact despite the foul trouble, finishing with the highest plus-minus of any player on either squad as a +22 in 13 minutes of action.

Ike Finlinson chipped in nine points and three rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench, providing some much-needed scoring on a night that saw UH shoot 32% from the field and hit 5-of-27 attempts from long distance against a strong Oregon defense. Gytis Nemeikša and Harry Rouhliadeff, who both dealt with foul trouble throughout the contest as well, each added eight points while combining for three blocks and nine personal fouls.

Hawai’i started quickly, getting out to a 7-2 lead after two and a half minutes of action as Johnson banked in a 3-pointer for his first official basket as a Rainbow Warrior. Oregon responded with nine of the game’s next 11 points, giving the hosts their first advantage of the evening with 15:04 remaining in the first half.

Finlinson gave Hawai’i the lead back with just over nine minutes left until halftime as the former JUCO National Player of the Year drilled his first triple with UH to make it a 17-16 lead for the visiting Rainbow Warriors. Back-to-back buckets from Simpkins pushed the Ducks back ahead momentarily, but a strong finish through contact plus the foul for Finlinson allowed UH to swing back in front, 22-20.

Oregon again punched back as the Ducks closed the first half on a 13-4 run, holding Hawai’i without a field goal for the final 4:52 of the stanza to take a seven-point lead into the locker room.

The second half opened with déjà vu for Hawai’i, scoring nine of the first 12 points out of the halftime break to pull within one at the under-16 media timeout as Dre Bullock drained his first three as a Rainbow Warrior.

Unfortunately, the break in the action halted UH’s momentum as well as Oregon went on a 14-1 run following the timeout, putting Hawai’i in its biggest hole of the evening, 50-36.

Bullock sparked the lifeless Rainbow Warriors less than 30 seconds later, coming up with a steal after Oregon F Kwame Evans Jr. suffered an apparent injury and dishing it off to Nemeikša for an open three at the top of the arc to end the scoring drought. After Isaac Johnson’s tip-slam from a missed Hunter Erickson layup, Bullock brought the house down with a poster dunk over Ducks all-conference center Nate Bittle on the next possession to make it a seven-point contest with 8:33 remaining.

Despite losing both Nemeikša and Johnson from fouling out, the Rainbow Warriors put together a 23-8 run over a nine-and-a-half-minute span to take a 59-58 lead over the Ducks with 1:34 left to play after Yacine Toumi split two free throws.

Hawai’i held onto the lead into the waning moments of the game, stopping four different shots by Oregon in the final 40 seconds before giving up a fourth offensive rebound and seeing Simpkins finish a tough layup off glass to save the Ducks from a Rainbow Warrior upset, 60-59.

The four late offensive rebounds shifted the game result and helped Oregon secure the rebounding battle as they narrowly edged Hawai’i on the glass, 47-41. Nate Bittle, who was selected to the preseason all-Big 10 team after a third-team all-Big 10 campaign last season, finished the night with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, blocking four shots to make up for a 3-of-8 night shooting.

Dre Bullock ended up with seven points and seven rebounds, shooting 3-of-10 from the floor as one of many Rainbow Warriors who struggled to find an offensive rhythm. Hunter Erickson, who had a last-gasp chance to win it at the buzzer for UH, added six points, three rebounds and three assists but connected on 2-of-11 shots on the night.

Hawai’i’s defense turned in quality results in a major test to open the year, holding the Ducks to 60 points on a ghastly 36% shooting from the field and 13% from long range. The Rainbow Warriors also forced 21 turnovers, more than Oregon committed in any game last season.

UH will return home and look to bounce back on Sunday, November 9, playing host to East Texas A&M at 8 p.m. HT to open up an 11-game homestand. The Rainbow Warriors next hit the road on New Year’s Day, visiting UC Riverside to kick off the final Big West marathon.

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UH Athletics NIL Endowment bill passes first Senate hearing

Feb 12, 2026

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Tanabe Leads the Way as HPU Tops Chaminade, 64–52

Tanabe Leads the Way as HPU Tops Chaminade, 64–52

Feb 7, 2026

Tanabe Leads the Way as HPU Tops Chaminade, 64–52 BY HSRN STAFF | HONOLULUPUBLISHED FEBRUARY 7, 2026HONOLULU - Hawai‘i Pacific University used a strong second quarter and balanced scoring to pull away from Chaminade, earning a 64–52 PacWest...

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Hawai’i ready for Oregon challenge in first road season opener in two decades

Hawai’i ready for Oregon challenge in first road season opener in two decades

Nov 4, 2025

Hawaii G Hunter Erickson pushes the ball downcourt during a preseason exhibition against Chaminade. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i ready for Oregon challenge in first road season opener in two decades

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 4, 2025

HONOLULU – Amped up for ramps up.

For the first time since 2006, the college basketball season will start away from the friendly confines of Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center for the University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team. With nine new faces on the 13-player roster, the early road trip will also provide a chance for the Rainbow Warriors to build on chemistry off the floor.

The November 4 start marks the earliest start in program history for UH and coming off a bumpy year, the new-look Hawai’i team can’t wait to tip off against the Oregon Ducks and leave the bad taste of last year in the past.

Among the new faces ready to make their Rainbow Warrior debut is center Isaac Johnson, who began his college career with the Ducks back in 2021 before transferring and spending the past three seasons with Utah State.

“I’m pumped,” Johnson said ahead of the opener against Oregon. “I think we’re excited to show everybody what we’ve been working on and all the hard work we’ve been putting in and show ourselves that too.”

The 7-footer was a part of back-to-back NCAA Tournament teams with the Aggies, helping lead USU to a first-round upset of TCU in 2024 with 19 points and four blocks before taking a backseat in his final go-round in Logan. With one final season of eligibility remaining, Johnson decided to team up with old friends from his high school days in the islands to make a run at March Madness.

“Our goal is to not just make it to March Madness and into the tournament, but to win games,” the senior responded when asked about the challenge of facing the Ducks on the road to begin the year. “So, to be in an arena like Matthew Knight Arena, with the crowd there in Eugene, it’s a great little preview of what we’re going to see.”

Johnson racked up 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists across 36 minutes of action in two exhibitions for the Rainbow Warriors. His presence will be important for UH against a Ducks team that has four players standing at 6-foot-10 or larger, including all-Big Ten third-team selection Nate Bittle.

Oregon, who is without star point guard Jackson Shelstad as he recovers from a broken hand, will present a substantial leap in competition from the two exhibitions UH competed in during the preseason. The Ducks were picked to finish fifth in the Big 10 preseason poll and flirted with an AP Top 25 ranking as they checked in with the 27th-most votes in the country.

Despite the loss of one preseason all-Big 10 selection in Shelstad, Oregon boasts another preseason all-conference pick in Bittle. The 7-foot, 250-pound big man was a five-star recruit and 2021 McDonald’s All-American out of high school and earned a third-team all-Big Ten selection last season after leading the Ducks with 14.2 points per game and ranking 18th nationally with 2.1 blocks per night.

“We’re ready for the challenge,” said Johnson, who will be one of the many Rainbow Warriors tasked with slowing down Bittle. “I think we’ve been prepared very well for [the ups and downs of the season] from [preseason] and we’re just ready to get going.”

Oregon is 15-0 in home openers under Dana Altman and have only lost two total season-openers under the veteran head coach. The Ducks have only met up with the Rainbow Warriors once in Altman’s tenure, an 89-64 win in Eugune back in December of 2019.

“Looking forward to seeing how this team comes together over the course of the year,”  head coach Eran Ganot said of his team before leaving for the continent. “Obviously, we’re throwing them right in the fire with a great road trip and a great Oregon team. Well-coached, well balanced, great size and a tough place to play, which is what we wanted early.”

Ducks sophomore Wei Lin got a chance to fill in for the injured Shelstad in two exhibition games, scoring 14 points, dishing out eight assists and committing only one turnover in more than 50 minutes of work against Utah and Stanford. The 6-foot-4 guard joined Oregon in the offseason after playing three seasons for the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Hawai’i has dealt with numerous injuries throughout the preseason as well, losing sophomore guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor to a hand injury in the opening days of camp while seeing senior Gytis Nemeikša and freshman Hunter Carter each missed the Rainbow Warriors’ matchup against Pomona-Pitzer among other ailments.

Nemeikša and Carter each returned against Chaminade while Hunkin-Claytor remained sidelined for the exhibition but got back to practicing before UH left for Oregon. The sophomore point guard is expected to return to action against the Ducks.

Even with the constant revolving door in the backcourt and elsewhere, the Rainbow Warriors put together as many strong days as possible during training camp.

“Really pleased with our guys’ effort over this challenging six weeks with guys in and out,” said Ganot of the team’s preseason. “We might have to deal with that a little longer and we’ll see how it goes, but that’s part of the season. Everybody’s going to be dealing with some of that adversity.”

Since 1969-70, UH is 1-3 in season openers away from the islands. The lone win came in 1989 in the Great Alaska Shootout against Division II Alaska Anchorage, when the program finished in third place after going 2-1 against UAA, Kansas State and Texas A&M.

Hawai’i tips off against Oregon at 5:30 p.m. HT on Tuesday. Fans can watch the matchup via the Big Ten Network.

UH Athletics NIL Endowment bill passes first Senate hearing

UH Athletics NIL Endowment bill passes first Senate hearing

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Tanabe Leads the Way as HPU Tops Chaminade, 64–52

Tanabe Leads the Way as HPU Tops Chaminade, 64–52

Feb 7, 2026

Tanabe Leads the Way as HPU Tops Chaminade, 64–52 BY HSRN STAFF | HONOLULUPUBLISHED FEBRUARY 7, 2026HONOLULU - Hawai‘i Pacific University used a strong second quarter and balanced scoring to pull away from Chaminade, earning a 64–52 PacWest...

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Division II Hawaii Pacific shocks Boise State behind West’s 23 points

Division II Hawaii Pacific shocks Boise State behind West’s 23 points

Nov 3, 2025

Hawaii Pacific G Quentin Meza (3) celebrates after a late and-one during the Sharks’ shocking upset over Boise State. | Photo Credit: MW Network

Division II Hawaii Pacific shocks Boise State behind West’s 23 points

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 3, 2025

Pipe dream?

Perhaps for another team, or in another year. Maybe if they played a different lineup or made different substitutions.

But on Monday night? With a new group that doesn’t know what they don’t know?

The “pipe dream” of every Division II program became a reality for the Hawaii Pacific University men’s basketball team.

Behind all-PacWest preseason selection Joshua West’s 23 points and four steals, the Sharks went into ExtraMile Arena and stunned Boise State, 79-78. HPU had four players finish in double figures, seeing Idaho State transfer Quentin Meza pour in 14 points (3-7 3PT) while Josh Niusulu and Quinton McCullough chipped in with 12 points each.

“It’s a little surreal still … but I’m sure it’ll sink in,” said third-year head coach Jesse Nakanishi of his emotions after the win. “Just very, very, very proud of our guys … I’m so happy they get a core memory for life. Some stuff we talk about is creating memories and that’s surely going to be one that no one can take away from them.”

The Sharks led for more than 27 minutes and spent less than six minutes trailing against the Broncos, who were selected to finish third in the Mountain West preseason poll and received the 28th-most votes in the first AP Top 25 poll. Hawaii Pacific also won the turnover battle, 12-10, and shot 49% from the floor against the bigger Boise State team.

Nakanishi saw his squad jump in front behind a quick start from West as the senior guard scored 11 of HPU’s first 17 points, taking a five-point lead more than five minutes into the action. Preseason All-Mountain West selection Andrew Meadow finally gave the Broncos their first lead of the night on a layup with 8:08 left to play in the opening half, but Hawaii Pacific pulled back in front 20 seconds later on a McCullough layup.

“Josh has just risen to the challenge here from last year to this year in a different role,” Nakanishi said of his star guard’s opening night performance. “For him to get going like that, it allowed us to really have the belief that we could actually hang in this game.”

A quick seven-point barrage by Niusulu to end the half helped the Sharks hold off the charging Broncos heading into the locker rooms, leaving an uneasy feeling with fans in ExtraMile Arena after 20 minutes of action as HPU led, 38-37.

HPU extended the lead back to five quickly after play resumed as Meza showed off impressive shooting range and three different Sharks finished tough layups, forcing Boise State to call a timeout less than three minutes into the second half. The Broncos pulled within one after back-to-back layups from Dylan Andrews and Drew Fielder, but Meza again drilled a deep triple to give the Sharks some slight breathing room, 50-46.

“That boy can shoot it, man,” Nakanishi said of Meza, who grabbed six rebounds, handed out three assists and snagged three steals to go along with his 14 points. “That guy doesn’t get phased, Quentin Meza. If there’s a shot open, he’s going to take it.”

Boise State punched back again after the Meza 3-pointer, tying the game at 51 with 13:24 left in regulation on a three from freshman forward Spencer Ahrens that ended up starting a nine-minute seesaw ride. After 11 lead changes and three ties between Sharks and Broncos, Avi Halpert gave the Division II visitors the lead for good with 4:23 remaining on a tough layup.

Another three ball from Meza, combined with a wild and-1 finish right after, pushed the HPU advantage to seven with three minutes to play. West’s layup with 1:48 to play kept the Sharks up six and gave just enough breathing room to escape a frantic Boise State comeback try, clinching one of the biggest wins in program history in a 79-78 thriller on the road.

“Not going in blind, but we had no idea what rotations and all that [would be yet],” Nakanishi chuckled. “We have not had a scrimmage or anything, so this is our first go at it. We just really focused on one play at a time … we knew our toughness was going to be challenged, we knew mentally to be confident in that type of environment and then our execution and our principles and concepts within our team schematically would be challenged.”

Nakanishi continued: “We addressed those three things and I give our guys credit. They didn’t look scared of the moment at all.”

UCLA transfer Dylan Andrews finished with a team-best 15 points for the Broncos, who shot 42% from the field and 30% from distance as a team in the loss. Georgetown transfer Drew Fielder tacked on 13 points and seven rebounds while preseason All-Mountain West pick Andrew Meadow was held to just 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting.

Avi Halpert, who came off the bench for the Sharks after starting 27 games in his first season in the islands, provided critical buckets in the second half for Nakanishi’s squad as he finished with nine points in 16 minutes. Senior forward Maj Dusanic was a beast defensively for an undersized HPU team and added six points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes of work.

Hawaii Pacific returns to the islands and will play host to Nobel University on Saturday inside the Shark Tank as fans get their first opportunity to see the Sharks in person for another exhibition. Tip-off on Saturday is at 7 p.m. HT.

“Handling success is something we’re going to have to touch on, but I’m not worried about it because we’ve got great guys that want to be good,” Nakanishi said of not allowing the upset win to let the team become complacent. “We’re practicing as soon as we get home the next day. There’s no off-day after, we’ve got to get back after … It can be natural human tendency to let up, but the irony is that we’re 0-0. We have not won a ball game that counts on our record.”

The goal ahead remains loud and clear to the Sharks. Monday was just a sneak peek at what HPU can do.

UH Athletics NIL Endowment bill passes first Senate hearing

UH Athletics NIL Endowment bill passes first Senate hearing

Feb 12, 2026

A bill that would establish an endowment fund to pay student-athletes at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa is moving forward in the Hawai’i Senate after passing its first committee hearing with amendments on Wednesday. Senate Bill 3263 would establish a Name, Image...

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Tanabe Leads the Way as HPU Tops Chaminade, 64–52

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Feb 7, 2026

Tanabe Leads the Way as HPU Tops Chaminade, 64–52 BY HSRN STAFF | HONOLULUPUBLISHED FEBRUARY 7, 2026HONOLULU - Hawai‘i Pacific University used a strong second quarter and balanced scoring to pull away from Chaminade, earning a 64–52 PacWest...

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Hawaii Pacific looking at building foundation on Boise State trip

Hawaii Pacific looking at building foundation on Boise State trip

Nov 2, 2025

Hawaii Pacific looking at building foundation on Boise State trip

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2, 2025

Talk about a test run.

After weeks of practices, secret scrimmages and outright exhibitions, the college basketball regular season officially tips off on Monday. Fans will get a fun sampler platter of matchups on the hardwood to begin the 2025-26 campaign, from defending national champion and No. 3-ranked Florida taking on 13th-ranked Arizona in Las Vegas to AJ Dybantsa’s debut with No. 8 BYU against Villanova.

While Hawaii Pacific’s matchup against Mountain West powerhouse Boise State will sail under the radar for most fans on opening night, the Sharks aren’t taking the trip to the continent to face the Broncos for granted despite the contest officially going down as just an exhibition for the Division II program.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our program,” head coach Jesse Nakanishi said ahead of the opener against Boise State. “Playing one of the top teams in the country for our first action is going to immediately test our togetherness, toughness, fundamentals and execution.”

The first time his team will enjoy game action outside of intrasquad scrimmages, Nakanishi and the Sharks will start the season in the deep end.

The Broncos are coming off of a 26-11 campaign that ended with a loss in the Mountain West Tournament championship game. It was the fourth straight year that BSU recorded 20 or more wins, and the 26 victories were tied for the second-most in a single season in program history.

This year projects to potentially be even better for Boise State, who was selected to finish third in the preseason Mountain West poll and received votes in the first AP Top 25 poll of the 2025-26 season. Junior forward Andrew Meadow was the lone Bronco to make the preseason All-Mountain West team, returning after a sophomore campaign that saw him score in double figures in 26 of 37 games.

After finishing 15-14 and being left outside of the PacWest playoff picture last year, Nakanishi and staff reworked the roster in the offseason with eight new faces joining nine returners for HPU. After a couple seasons with a plethora of bigs to rotate in the frontcourt, the Sharks downsized with dynamic guard and wing talent to help play faster.

HPU spent the summer working to adjust to that faster pace while new players found chemistry with each other, using limited weekly time together to get stronger in the weight room and more comfortable on the court. Those extra workouts will need to be useful for the Sharks and provide a baseline of cohesion to help counteract a two-week difference in official practices that Division I programs have over lower division counterparts.

“They all want to be coached hard,” Nakanishi said of his team’s attitude during the short preseason. “They all want to be held to certain standards that we have here, and they’ve lived up to them so far.”

Boise State, who has a high standard of their own, will challenge Hawaii Pacific to use that strength work from the offseason while overmatching the Sharks with size. In all, nine Broncos stand at 6-foot-6 or taller while the Sharks boast a total of just three players matching that same criteria.

One of the frontcourt options is the team’s biggest player, 6-foot-10 true freshman center Zane Gaul. While he’ll get a chance to get his feet wet with college action, it’ll be more on veteran forward and captain Maj Dusanic to compete defensively and on the glass to set the tone for the rest of the Sharks.

Anticipating full health, Hawaii Pacific will have chances to test out multiple lineups for the first time without needing to worry about a loss on the resume – an invaluable opportunity for Nakanishi and staff with a brutal schedule awaiting in the non-conference and PacWest portions of the year.

It’ll be the first time seeing Idaho State transfer Quentin Meza play alongside all-PacWest preseason pick Joshua West while serving as the return from a season-long injury for wing Josh Niusulu. Weber State transfer Nemanja Sarenac will get a chance to be a movement shooter while playing three different spots as a 6-foot-5 wing.

Avi Halpert, who was also named a captain for the Sharks along with Dusanic and West, also returns for his junior season with more shooting around him. The 6-foot guard had the fourth-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the PacWest last season and should get a chance to put up bigger numbers this year.

Off the court, the Sharks will also get a test run at traveling to the continent as eight guys get adjusted to the six-plus hour flight they’ll take for nearly every road trip. HPU went 3-9 away from the Shark Tank last season, failing to pick up their first win on the continent until the end of January.

While an upset of the Broncos might be a pipe dream, Monday is the first chance for the Sharks to take a bite out of someone else in competition. After three weeks of official practices, HPU is looking to compete and build quality habits before anything else.

After all, Monday doesn’t count in the record book for the Sharks but it can build the foundation for the future.

HPU will tip off against Boise State on Monday, November 3 at 4 p.m. HT / 7 p.m. MT and can be seen on the Mountain West Network.

San Jose State stuns Hawai’i behind offensive explosion, Scudero’s career night

San Jose State stuns Hawai’i behind offensive explosion, Scudero’s career night

Nov 1, 2025

Hawai’i S Peter Manuma looks on while playing defense during a road game for UH. | Photo Credit: Brian Bautista, HSRN

San Jose State stuns Hawai’i behind offensive explosion, Scudero’s career night

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 1, 2025

Crashing down quick.

Capping off a crazy day in the Mountain West Conference, the University of Hawai’i football team saw a three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night as the Rainbow Warriors fell in a shootout on the continent to San Jose State, 45-38.

The Spartans (3-5, 2-2 Mountain West) torched the UH defense to the tune of 603 total yards, including a career-best 212 yards receiving on just six catches from redshirt sophomore WR Danny Scudero, who hauled in two more touchdowns to bring his season total to 10 scores.

Redshirt senior QB Walker Eget completed 20-of-40 pass attempts for 458 yards and a pair of TDs, his second-highest passing total of the season and third-highest output in a single game in his career. The 6-foot-3 signal caller also added 25 yards with his legs and did not take a sack all game as SJSU won its fifth straight game over UH.

Hawai’i (6-3, 3-2 Mountain West) started hot, stopping the Spartans on each of the first two drives while punching in a touchdown on their own opening possession as Cam Barfield scored for the fifth time this season with a 1-yard run. The momentum flipped in favor of San Jose State with time winding down in the first quarter when Landon Sims fumbled near midfield, allowing SJSU to register the lone takeaway of the night and keep it at a 7-0 deficit.

An Eget-to-Scudero connection for 37 yards immediately put the Spartans into the red zone and Steve Chavez-Soto took care of the rest on the next play as bounced outside and dove for the pylon for a 10-yard rushing TD, tying the game with 51 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The momentum for SJSU carried over into the second quarter as Hawai’i’s defense continued to look for answers. Following a three-and-out from the UH offense, San Jose State drove 87 yards down the field to take the lead with less than 10 minutes left in the first half as Chavez-Soto burst through for a score for the second time, this time on a 20-yard TD rush.

Lamar Radcliffe, who finished a game-high 70 rushing yards on 10 carries for the Spartans, extended the lead to 21-7 on the next possession after a second straight punt from the Rainbow Warriors.

Hawai’i punched back finally as the offense awoke with a 68-yard TD to Jackson Harris that cut the deficit back to seven, but San Jose State quieted the rally Rainbows with a quick 50-yard scoring strike to Scudero less than a minute later. The Spartans tacked on a 24-yard field goal right before the half, taking a 31-14 lead over the Rainbow Warriors into the locker rooms.

Hawai’i applied pressure to open the second half, marching down on the first possession of the third quarter and seeing Sims barrel into the end zone on a 6-yard score to make it a 10-point game. Again, the Spartans countered with another long Scudero score as the redshirt sophomore broke behind the UH defense for a 62-yard touchdown as he recorded his third multi-touchdown game of the season.

The Rainbow Warrior defense provided the offense with a pick-me-up after a punt as they forced a turnover-on-downs near midfield, leading to another Landon Sims touchdown to bring UH within two scores once again.

The defense for UH stood tall to force just the second SJSU punt all game to open the fourth quarter, allowing the offense to cut it to a 3-point game with 9:32 left in regulation as Alejado tossed up a 50-50 ball for Jackson Harris that resulted in a 20-yard touchdown on the ensuing drive.

San Jose State quickly advanced into UH territory after the following kickoff, seeing Leland Smith take a short pass 42 yards on the first play of the drive. After draining about four minutes off the clock, Chavez-Soto ran over defenders at the goal line to put SJSU back up by two possessions with 5:41 to play.

Hawai’i drove deep into Spartans’ territory, but curious clock management and a lack of urgency from the offense left little wiggle room for the Rainbow Warriors to work with after Kansei Matsuzawa’s program record-tying field goal with 1:16 left made it a one-score game once again.

UH had a chance to recover the subsequent onside kick try, seeing the ball spin towards the sideline untouched before rolling out of bounds and just escaping the grasp of Pofele Ashlock as the Rainbow Warrior win streak was snapped.

Leland Smith finished with 113 yards on four receptions for the Spartans while Chavez-Soto racked up 53 yards on 10 carries to go along with his trio of touchdowns. Kyri Shoels ended up with five catches for 109 yards for SJSU as the hosts had nine different receptions of 25+ yards throughout the night.

Micah Alejado finished with his fourth consecutive game with 300 or more passing yards and three or more touchdowns, completing 31-of-46 passing attempts for 367 yards and three scores in the loss. The redshirt freshman became the first UH quarterback since Bryant Moniz in 2010 to throw for 300 or more yards and three or more touchdowns in four straight games.

Jackson Harris and Pofele Ashlock each showed out in the loss as Harris went for six catches, 134 yards and two touchdowns and Ashlock pulled in seven receptions for 104 yards. It was the fourth straight game with 100 or more yards for Harris, becoming the first receiver for UH to accomplish the feat since John Ursua in 2018.

Landon Sims had his first career multi-touchdown game with a rushing and receiving score, ending the night with 57 yards on the ground and 18 more through the air across 17 total touches.

Hawai’i returns home next weekend to host Mountain West-leading San Diego State, who defeated Wyoming on Saturday, 24-7, to remain the lone unbeaten team in the Mountain West. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. HT on Saturday, November 8 and is already being listed as a sell-out at T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.