RAINBOW BASKETBALL
TONY AVELAR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
Ahmet Gueye of Hawaii blocked a shot by Justonn Smith of San Jose State -- one of seven by Gueye last night.
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’Bows follow Gueye’s lead
The senior forward sparks UH to a 67-55 win at San Jose State
By Damin Esper
Special to the Star-Bulletin
SAN JOSE, Calif. » There was a moment in the latter stages of last night's game when Hawaii forward Ahmet Gueye was sitting at the end of the Rainbow Warrior bench, his head covered in a towel and ice packs on both of his knees.
Next Up vs. Idaho on Thursday
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Then, coach Riley Wallace summoned Gueye one more time and the senior removed the towel and ice and lumbered to the scorer's table.
Gueye was a true Warrior last night, scoring 14 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking seven shots in Hawaii's 67-55 win at San Jose State.
Gueye scored 10 of the Rainbow Warriors' first 12 points and set an Event Center record with the blocked shots (one short of Hawaii's school record). It was a bittersweet reminder of both how good Gueye is and how good he could have been if he hadn't blown out his knee at the end of his junior season one year ago.
"He's a dominant player," San Jose State coach George Nessman said. "This man's coming off of a serious knee injury at the end of last year. He was on the court in November. That alone speaks well of him.
"I think he's the toughest big in the WAC. He's the toughest to move. He's the glue of their team."
Hawaii (16-12, 6-8 WAC) clinched its eighth straight winning season in picking up a second straight road victory.
Gueye has been looking especially tough of late, scoring in double-figures in four consecutive games.
"His knee seems to be stronger," Wallace said. "He's got good timing. He surprises people with those long arms. He gets a lot out of what he's got."
Gueye came out aggressive, scoring a quick 10 points to keep the Rainbows in the game as the Spartans (4-24, 3-12 Western Athletic Conference) started quick.
"With my legs hurting, I have a hard time getting into the game," Gueye said. "This time, I had to show my teammates the way."
TONY AVELAR / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN
Hawaii's Stephen Verwers, left, battled San Jose State's Jamon Hill for a loose ball.
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Once the game settled down, Gueye was doing the grunt work of rebounding and defense. By halftime, he had played 20 minutes with 12 points, eight rebounds and six blocks.
Nessman said Gueye has adjusted to his injury.
"Gueye could score over you last year," Nessman said. "This year, it's leverage."
That work wore him down, however. Wallace had to pull him out twice in the second half.
"I had to get him out of there because he missed a couple of layups because he lost his legs," Wallace said.
Gueye's game was miles better than his last trip to the Bay Area. On Nov. 29, he was held scoreless for the only time in his Hawaii career in a game at Santa Clara. Afterward, Wallace noted that the team needed Gueye's 14 points on a consistent basis.
"That was my worst game," Gueye said. "When you have injuries like this, it affects you mentally. I had a lot of ups and downs. My teammates and my fans never wavered."
Gueye certainly wasn't alone yesterday -- he was one of four Hawaii players in double-figures. Matt Lojeski led the way with 15, while Matt Gibson and Bobby Nash each had 11. Lojeski added 11 rebounds. The Rainbows had a 45-30 advantage on the boards, more than enough to make up for their 23 turnovers.
Gueye easily could have tied Melton Werts, Tony Maroney and Mike Robinson in the record book with his eighth blocked shot. But when Gueye went up to block Menelik Barbary's shot with 3 minutes, 18 seconds left, he was called for a foul instead.
"I really thought it was clean, but that's all right," Gueye said. "At least we won tonight."
Spoken like a true Warrior.
Hawaii 67, San Jose St. 55
Rainbow Warriors (16-12, 6-8 WAC)
|
|
fg |
fga |
ft |
fta |
min |
reb |
a |
tp
|
Owsley |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
4 |
0 |
6
|
Nash |
3 |
7 |
4 |
4 |
29 |
6 |
2 |
11
|
Gueye |
5 |
13 |
4 |
4 |
33 |
13 |
3 |
14
|
Gibson |
4 |
11 |
2 |
2 |
39 |
1 |
5 |
11
|
Lojeski |
6 |
10 |
3 |
4 |
30 |
11 |
4 |
15
|
Waters |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
2
|
Luettgerodt |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
18 |
3 |
0 |
5
|
Verwers |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
18 |
4 |
0 |
3
|
TEAM |
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
Totals |
23 |
51 |
18 |
20 |
200 |
45 |
14 |
67 |
Spartans (4-24, 3-12 WAC)
|
|
fg |
fga |
ft |
fta |
min |
reb |
a |
tp
|
Spencer |
3 |
13 |
4 |
4 |
32 |
6 |
2 |
10
|
Holloway |
3 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
28 |
1 |
1 |
6
|
Barbary |
3 |
7 |
4 |
9 |
22 |
3 |
1 |
10
|
Richardson |
4 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
34 |
5 |
2 |
12
|
Hill |
1 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
31 |
2 |
4 |
6
|
Pierce |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
3
|
Goins |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0
|
Wooldridge |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
2
|
Buggs |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0
|
Thomas |
2 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
1 |
0 |
4
|
Smith |
1 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
2
|
TEAM |
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
Totals |
19 |
64 |
12 |
22 |
200 |
30 |
10 |
55 |
Key -- fg: field goals made; fga: field goals attempted; ft: free throws made; fta: free throws attempted; min: minutes played; reb: rebounds; a: assists; tp: total points.
Halftime -- San Jose State 32, Hawaii 30.
3-point goals -- Hawaii 3-15 (Luettgerodt 1-2, Nash 1-5, Gibson 1-5, Waters 0-1, Lojeski 0-2), SJSU 5-14 (Richardson 3-6, Hill 1-2, Pierce 1-3, Goins 0-1, Spencer 0-2). Personal fouls -- Hawaii 20, SJSU 17. Fouled out -- Spencer, Barbary. Technical fouls -- Wooldridge.
Steals -- Hawaii 9 (Lojeski 4, Owsley 2, Gueye 2, Gibson), SJSU 11 (Spencer 3, Hill 2, Holloway, Richardson, Pierce, Buggs, Thomas, Smith). Blocked shots -- Hawaii 9 (Gueye 7, Lojeski, Luettgerodt), SJSU 3 (Holloway 3). Turnovers -- Hawaii 23 (Lojeski 6, Nash 4, Gibson 4, Gueye 3, Luettgerodt 3, Verwers 2, Owsley), SJSU 12 (Spencer 4, Richardson 4, Barbary 2, Hill, Buggs).
Officials -- Jim Stupin, Ronnie Hernandez, Darron George. A -- 2,583.
WAC Standings
|
WAC |
Overall
|
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
W |
L
|
Nevada |
13 |
1 |
.929 |
-- |
26 |
2
|
New Mexico State |
10 |
4 |
.769 |
3 |
21 |
7
|
Fresno State |
8 |
6 |
.538 |
5 |
20 |
8
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Utah State |
8 |
6 |
.571 |
5 |
20 |
9
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Boise State |
8 |
6 |
.571 |
5 |
16 |
11
|
Louisiana Tech |
7 |
8 |
.467 |
6 1/2 |
10 |
18
|
Hawaii |
6 |
8 |
.429 |
7 |
16 |
12
|
San Jose State |
3 |
12 |
.200 |
10 1/2 |
4 |
24
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Idaho |
1 |
13 |
.071 |
12 |
3 |
24 |
Yesterday
Hawaii 67, San Jose State 55
Louisiana Tech 84, Utah State 71
Nevada 95, Boise State 81
Fresno State 60, New Mexico State 58
Thursday
Idaho at Hawaii, 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center
Nevada at Utah State
Louisiana Tech at New Mexico State
Boise State at Fresno State