In a game in which both teams shots identical marks from the floor, defense made all the difference for Hawaii.
In a game in which both teams shots identical marks from the floor, defense made all the difference for Hawaii.
Roderick Bobbitt scored 23 points on four 3-pointers to lead the Rainbow Warriors to a second consecutive victory in the Rainbow Classic on Sunday, beating Coastal Carolina 74-63 in Honolulu.
Hawaii took a quick 11-point lead four minutes into the game and led by as many as 20 points after a 15-3 run early in the second half.
“The second half was about defense,” coach Eran Ganot said on the OCSports telecast. “That first 10-15 minutes was about getting stops and we did a great job there.”
Both teams shot 20 of 52 from the field and each side attempted 25 3-point shots, but Hawaii knocked down one more 3-pointer and had a big edge from the free throw line, knocking down 25 of 37 attempts. The Chanticleers (0-2) were 15 of 21.
Hawaii, which posted an 87-76 win over Montana State in the tournament opener Friday, forced 20 turnovers.
Aaron Valdes and Quincy Smith scored 12 and 11 points, respectively for Hawaii, and Stefan Jancovic collected nine points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Jaylen Shaw scored 15 points and Shivaughn Wiggins and Elijah Wilson each added 12 points for Coastal Carolina.
Hawaii holds its own annual form of midnight madness at 11 p.m. Monday when it hosts Nevada on ESPN2.
“Experience there should work in our favor,” Ganot said. “A tough opponent.
“A quick turnaround and we’ll try to fire out fresh.”
Wahine clinch tie for top spot
Nikki Taylor pounded 21 kills, and No. 7 Hawaii won its 18th in a row, beating Cal Davis on the road to clinch a share of the Big West title.
Tai Manu-Olevao added 11 kills and 14 digs and Olivia Magill contributed 10 kills and six blocks in the Rainbow Wahine’s 23-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-17 victory.
The Aggies (13-15, 8-6) were held to .113 hitting.
Hawaii (13-15, 8-6) can clinch the league title outright Tuesday with a victory at Cal Irvine.
UH women 2-0
Sarah Toeaina matched her career-high with 14 points, including a jumper that ignited a late second-half surge, and Hawaii held off Northern Arizona 61-52 in Flagstaff, Ariz., improving to 2-0.
Ahead by as many as 16 points, the Rainbow Wahine saw the lead cut to 50-48 midway through the fourth quarter. Toeaina, Connie Morris (six points, five rebounds) Kalei Adolpho and Destiny King (13 points, seven rebounds) hit baskets to help Hawaii pull away.
Ashleigh Karaitiana added 10 points, four rebounds and four assists for UH, which held the Lumberjacks 23.7 percent shooting.
Rainbow Warrior/
Wahine watch
Basketball
Men
Sunday
Hawaii 74, Coastal Carolina 63
Monday
Nevada at Hawaii, 11 p.m.
Women
Sunday
Hawaii 61, Northern Arizona 62
Volleyball
Sunday
Hawaii def. Cal Davis 3-1
Tuesday
Hawaii at Cal Irvine, 5 p.m.
Thursday
Hawaii at Cal Poly, 5 p.m.
Saturday
Hawaii at Cal Santa Barbara, 5 p.m.