Monday, February 23, 1998
For UH, all is right
on Senior Night
Hawaii holds off Tulsa
By Cindy Luis
in its home finale to clinch a spot
in the WAC Tournament
Star-BulletinNo one does Senior Night like the University of Hawaii, handing out enough leis to stock Maunakea Street and enough genuine affection to build a bridge of momentum to the mainland. Saturday, the Rainbow men's basketball team was doubly rewarded at the Stan Sheriff Center. Hawaii appropriately dedicated the arena to the late athletic director with a huge 72-62 Western Athletic Conference victory over Tulsa, then spent hours with a send-off committee of thousands.
The win, Hawaii's third straight, kept the Rainbows in fourth place in the WAC going into this final week of the regular season. Hawaii (17-7 overall, 6-6 WAC) is at .500 in the conference for the first time this season, a percentage the Rainbows would like to improve on by winning their last two games -- at San Jose State (2-22, 0-12) on Thursday and Fresno State (16-9, 9-3) on Saturday.
Depending on how the final two games play out, the Rainbows will finish between third and fifth. Saturday's victory clinched a spot in the WAC Tournament for the Rainbows, who two weeks ago appeared in danger of missing the tournament (the top six Pacific Division teams qualify).
"Winning this one gives us a lot of confidence to go out on the road and keep it going," said senior guard Alika Smith, who tied for game-high honors with 19 points Saturday. "San Jose State is a winnable game for us. Fresno won't be easy, but we're in the frame of mind to do something."
A sweep would do plenty for Hawaii's mindset heading into next week's WAC Tournament in Las Vegas. It also would make the Rainbows more attractive to the NCAA and NIT selection committees.
"If we split on the road, it puts us in good position, but winning both puts us in a better position," said senior forward Mike Robinson, who turned in an outstanding overall performance Saturday (19 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, four steals).
"Mike came to play tonight and he really stepped it up," said senior guard Anthony Carter, who added 11 points, five assists and three steals. "We're going to need that kind of game out of him every night the rest of the way.
"We're going to get that Fresno win. Everyone is focused and ready to play."
Give Carter credit for keeping his teammates involved during the critical game with the Golden Hurricane (17-10, 8-4). After Eric Ambrozich missed a shot on an inbounds play, Carter went right back to his senior forward in transition, resulting in a 3-point play and a 50-41 Hawaii lead with 13:20 left.
Tulsa closed to 54-49 with 8:46 left after the Rainbows, who committed just three turnovers in the first 30 minutes, had three within a two-minute span. But Hawaii's pressure man defense hung tough, holding the Golden Hurricane to four free throws during a 10-4 run that put the game out of reach.
Pacific Division scenarios
Hawaii wins last two, Tulsa loses two: UH finishes third in Pacific Division
Tulsa pulled to 65-59 with 86 seconds left, but the Rainbows finished with a 7-3 run. Smith was 4-for-5 from the free-throw line and Micah Kroeger scored three of his 15 points, setting up a final group hug at home in front of a sellout crowd of 10,254.
Tulsa, which lived by the 3-pointer in the first half (7-for-9), died by it in the second (0-for-14). Several attempts went in and out, causing Sheriff's widow, Jane, to remark: "Stan was here tonight and he was saying, 'Not in my house. Not on my night.'"
The senior aloha shots were emotional as always. Smith didn't even try to fight back the tears. He took a pass from 9-year-old brother Kea and hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key, equaling the number he made from behind the arc during the game.
Stealing the show, however, was Jo Nasser, Kroeger's mother, who fed her son the ball on his final dunk.
"I didn't know until tonight that it was going to happen," Nasser said. "He said, 'Mom, it'll be just like old times.' I was his mother and father for a long time after his father moved out and we divorced.
"We'd go out in the middle of winter (in Michigan), shovel the snow off the driveway, wear gloves and go out and shoot."
"Mom's been with me since the beginning," Kroeger said. "She was the one outside helping me when I was younger, passing me the ball. It's fitting she'd be there when it all ended."
The fans stayed for hours to get autographs from the seven seniors, two of whom did not play against Tulsa -- Ales Zivanovic and Luke Meyers.
Robinson might be back for a second senior night if the NCAA grants him another year of eligibility (he left junior college his freshman year when his mother was diagnosed with cancer). Hawaii has petitioned for another season.
"Sure, we'd like to have him back another year," Hawaii coach Riley Wallace said. "But if it doesn't happen, he's had a good career and we'll fill the spot. He's played very well the last few games. With him, it's concentration, and like the rest of our guys, when his offense is there, everything else follows."
WAC Pacific Division How they stand
TCU 12 0 Fresno State 9 3 Tulsa 8 4 Hawaii 6 6 SMU 5 7 San Diego St. 5 7 Rice 3 9 San Jose St. 0 12Note: Top six qualify for WAC Tournament
1997-98 Rainbow Men's Basketball Schedule
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
