Squeaker: Rainbows pass San Jose late
They had seen games like this slip away too many times already this season.
This time, facing another critical late-game situation, Hawaii delivered on both ends of the court to pull out a close win.
Guard Matt Gibson's driving layup with 11 seconds left gave the Rainbow Warriors the lead and UH came up with a last-second stand to preserve a 65-64 comeback win over San Jose State before a crowd of 2,772 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbows (6-10, 2-2 Western Athletic Conference) completed a sweep of the season series against San Jose State and extended their winning streak against the Spartans (8-8, 1-3) to 11 straight.
"We want to hold court the rest of the way," UH coach Bob Nash said after his team rebounded from an 18-point home loss to Nevada last Saturday. "We can't let any more games get away at home. The effort they gave tonight has to be the effort we give every night defensively.
"These guys are Warriors and they're going to do that. ... They really worked their butts off defensively in the second half."
Hawaii defeated the Spartans 85-79 on Jan. 5 in San Jose thanks in part to its second best shooting night of the season to date (53 percent), draining seven 3-pointers.
But the shooting woes that plagued the Rainbows against Nevada followed them into last night's game. Hawaii, one of the WAC's top free-throw shooting teams this season, made just two of its first 12 attempts from the line and went 3-for-14 from 3-point range in the game.
Still, the Rainbows stayed within striking distance, hitting their last 10 in a row from the line, and took a 56-54 lead with 3:39 left on a Bobby Nash 3-pointer.
Momentum see-sawed from there and Gibson gave Hawaii the lead for good with 11 seconds left, driving to the bucket for the winning score after the Rainbows had worked the shot clock down.
"I was thinking, "Get to the middle and draw some defenders and look to kick,' " Gibson said. "When I drove, nobody stepped up so I just finished it."
The Oklahoma City combo of Gibson and Bill Amis paced the Rainbows with 14 points each, and both hit big shots in the final minutes. Bobby Nash contributed 13 points.
Guard DaShawn Wright led the Spartans with 20 points and center C.J. Webster, named WAC Player of the Week yesterday, finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.
SJSU guard Justin Graham, who scored 29 points in the first meeting, scored four points early, but didn't play in the second half after suffering a fractured elbow. The Spartans' shooting touch cooled and they committed 19 turnovers.
"In the second half, they pressured us a lot," SJSU coach George Nessman said. "They went man and pressured us a lot and dared our guys to drive it and we don't have the guards who can create plays like Justin can and they really pressured us into a lot of mistakes."
Hawaii started its usual first five, but went to a platoon system after falling behind midway through the half. They also picked up the pressure on defense, extending fullcourt, which seemed to energize the Rainbows as they forced 13 first-half turnovers and 19 in the game.
"We got everybody's attention that you have to play hard and you have be willing to work hard in this game," Bob Nash said of the platoon.
San Jose State was able to maintain a lead and went up by 10 early in the second half, but the Rainbows scratched their way back and Gibson delivered the go-ahead bucket. After a timeout, Wright's jumper in the lane bounced off the rim and Dillinger corralled the rebound and the final seconds ran off the clock.
Hawaii closes out its three-game homestand against Fresno State (9-8, 2-1) on Saturday at the Sheriff Center.
WAC standings
WAC Overall
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
W |
L |
Utah State |
2 |
0 |
1.000 |
-- |
12 |
5 |
Boise State |
3 |
1 |
.750 |
1/2 |
12 |
4 |
New Mexico State |
3 |
1 |
.750 |
1/2 |
9 |
10 |
Fresno State |
2 |
1 |
.666 |
1/2 |
9 |
8 |
Hawaii |
2 |
2 |
.500 |
1 |
6 |
10 |
Nevada |
1 |
1 |
.500 |
1 |
9 |
6 |
San Jose State |
1 |
3 |
.250 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
Idaho |
1 |
3 |
.250 |
2 |
4 |
11 |
Louisiana Tech |
0 |
3 |
.000 |
2 1/2 |
3 |
12 |
Yesterday
Hawaii 65, San Jose State 64
Hawaii 65, San Jose St. 64
Spartans (8-8, 1-3 Wac)
|
fg |
fga |
ft |
fta |
min |
reb |
a |
tp |
Pierce |
2 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
25 |
5 |
0 |
7 |
Oakes |
3 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
26 |
10 |
1 |
7 |
Webster |
5 |
9 |
6 |
8 |
30 |
8 |
3 |
16 |
Graham |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
Wright |
9 |
12 |
1 |
2 |
35 |
3 |
2 |
20 |
Udeoji |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Thomas |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Hill |
3 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
Peterson |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Caballero |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Holloway |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
16 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
Team |
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
Totals |
25 |
52 |
12 |
16 |
200 |
41 |
8 |
64 |
Rainbow Warriors (6-10, 2-2 Wac)
|
fg |
fga |
ft |
fta |
min |
reb |
a |
tp |
Luettgerodt |
3 |
9 |
2 |
2 |
33 |
5 |
3 |
8 |
Nash |
4 |
14 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
4 |
4 |
13 |
Owsley |
3 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
25 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
Gibson |
5 |
12 |
3 |
5 |
33 |
3 |
2 |
14 |
Dillinger |
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
Nitoto |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Campbell |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Mayen |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
Amis |
6 |
10 |
2 |
4 |
29 |
7 |
1 |
14 |
Veit |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
Team |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Totals |
25 |
61 |
12 |
22 |
200 |
30 |
14 |
65 |
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 St. 30, Hawaii 24
3-point goals -- San Jose St. 2-10 (Wright 1-1, Pierce 1-5, Webster 0-1, Peterson 0-2, Hill 0-1.), Hawaii 3-14 (Nash 2-7, Gibson 1-4, Dillinger 0-1, Amis 0-1). Personal fouls -- San Jose St. 21, Hawaii 14. Fouled out--Oakes.
Steals -- San Jose St. 4 (Wright 2, Oakes, Webster). Hawaii 8 (Luettgerodt 2, Amis, Campbell, Gibson, Mayen,Nash, Nitoto). Blocked shots -- Hawaii 3 (Amis, Luettgerodt, Nash) San Jose St. 1 (Oakes). Turnovers -- San Jose St. 19 (Wright 6, Graham 5, Pierce 3, Hill 2, Holloway, Oakes, Webster, Hawaii 9 (Gibson 5, Nitoto 2, Campbell, Owsley).
Officials -- Mike Littlewood, Larry Spaulding, Shawn Lehigh. A--2,772.