Sports Watch

By Bill Kwon

Thursday, February 20, 1997

’Bows enjoying
a magical, mystical ride

THE Rainbows' magical and somewhat mystical ride is still barreling along and where it stops nobody knows. But like that automobile commercial says, "Enjoy the ride."

The University of Hawaii men's basketball team improved its record to 19-4 (11-2 in the WAC) with a 74-62 victory over San Diego State in a game that wasn't as comfy as the score indicated.

But, then, why are you surprised? Nothing has come easy for Coach Riley Wallace's Rainbows this season and there's no reason why it should start now.

The usual cast of heroes was front and present:

Anthony Carter was his usual self after shaking off a five-turnover first half. "I thought I'd give them a different look," Carter said about his new goatee. Like the Rainbows' hot streak, he hopes to keep it growing.

Alika Smith was stopping and popping without letup despite playing all but five minutes in the last five games - and victories.

Like Alika, Micah Kroeger - described by Wallace as a "hyperactive kid" - also played full-tilt over the entire 40-minute stretch, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 boards against the Aztecs, who didn't go quietly as they did the last time around at their place.

Michael Robinson started for only the fourth time this season and came up with key rebounds when the early going wasn't going very well. The Aztecs actually led at intermission, 33-32, as the 'Bows committed 11 turnovers.

BUT, get this, the Rainbow boxscore line of the night belonged to Danny Furlong: 2-3, 1-1 for 5 points, 7 rebounds and one steal in 15 quality minutes.

Hello? Danny Furlong?

And when the going got tough, last night anyway, the 6-foot-11 senior got going. Furlong played like a man possessed over a critical two-minute stretch when the Aztecs mounted their last serious challenge at 56-53.

Furlong hit a 15-foot jumper and then sank a put-back and a free throw after he was fouled to make it 61-53. He also grabbed another rebound, committed a foul that resulted in two missed free throws and stole an in-bounds pass. He was all over the court.

"He was probably our most valuable player tonight," Smith said.

"When Danny came in, he had that fire," Wallace added.

"I thought Danny played the most quality time that he's played this year while he was in there. He really did the job and got it done for us. That's what we need from him with Seth out of there."

And it was as if Furlong was saying, "This one's for you, Seth, buddy." Seth, of course, is Seth Sundberg, the team's 7-1 center who's most likely lost for the season because of a lacerated spleen.

"I'm glad he got out of the hospital and was able to watch us play," said Furlong, Sundberg's back-up.

THAT the Rainbows are 4-0 with Sundberg sidelined shows how the players have been picking each other up in their headlong rush to the WAC's Pacific Division title. It's very likely now but it was oh so unlikely when the season first started.

"They're close to something very nice," said Wallace, who warned his 'Bows in the locker room at halftime that they didn't want to blow it now against the Aztecs. They didn't.

Even with a loss at New Mexico Saturday - and don't count the refuse-to-lose 'Bows out - Hawaii's virtually assured of a first-round bye in the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas. But Carter & Co. are aiming for a higher prize - a rare postseason NCAA invitation.

They want their last stop to be the last dance - in the NCAAs. The way they're playing, who's to say the joyride will ever stop?

"We go into every game feeling like we can win,"said Smith. "We're thinking we can play with anybody, beat anybody."

I lika Alika's attitude.