One more time

There’s still one more "first" to cross off the hoops to-do list for Hawaii veterans Vander Joaquim, Hauns Brereton and Jace Tavita. "Senior night, you only get one in your college career," Tavita said. "I’m excited."

The three seniors and team captains will be honored in traditional fashion after tonight’s home finale against Cal Poly at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The game tips off at 7:30, or roughly a half-hour after the UH women’s basketball game ends against Cal State Northridge. It’s a "White-Out" doubleheader.

"I expect the guys to give a great effort, really come to play. It’s important to them to end their careers well here at home," UH coach Gib Arnold said. "I expect leadership. That’s what they bring to the table, that’s what they’ve been able to bring, to do all year. Nothing but a great effort from this group."

UH (17-11, 10-6 Big West) clinched winning overall and league records with a 70-66 victory over UC Santa Barbara on Thursday. UH hadn’t had a winning conference record since going 10-6 in the WAC in 2005-06.

All three seniors were big in bringing the team back from an eight-point second-half deficit. They combined for 47 points (their most this season) against the Gauchos, including a career-high 17 from the pass-first, pass-second, shoot-third point guard Tavita.

Those kinds of things tend to happen once the calendar flips to March. After tonight, only a road game at Cal State Northridge next Thursday separates the ‘Bows from the Big West tournament March 14. They could still finish anywhere from second to sixth.

But first, UH hopes a little payback is in order. Behind 11 3-pointers, Cal Poly (14-12, 9-6) trounced UH 88-59 in San Luis Obispo, Calif., on Jan. 24, for Hawaii’s most lopsided defeat of the season. Joe Callero’s team hasn’t let up, winning five of six.

"It’s going to be a very emotional game," said Joaquim, the ‘Bows’ 6-foot-10 center. "We’re just hoping to come out there and have a good performance. They’re a really good team. We just gotta come ready to play … They have that hit-(first) mentality. That’s what we were missing. We just look to have that from the jump ball."

The Mustangs (14-12, 9-6) are coming off an 81-61 victory at Northridge on Thursday, in which they hit 12 of 15 3-point attempts. Callero called it "our best road performance of the year from start to finish," high praise considering the Mustangs upset UCLA at Pauley Pavilion on Nov. 25.

"We were just absolutely on fire," Callero said. "If you can do that on the road, you’re going to win some games. … For us to pull an upset on your home court (tonight), we’re going to turn in another 50 percent-or-better 3-point night."

Cal Poly is one of the most efficient teams around. The Mustangs’ scant 9.5 turnovers per game is second-best in the nation. However, they’ve typically struggled to finish games on the road, with a 3-11 record, Thursday notwithstanding. Meanwhile, UH is 7-1 at home in Big West play.

Junior forward Chris Eversley has recovered from an ankle sprain and leads the Mustangs with 15.8 points per game. Guard Dylan Royer went 7-for-8 from long range on Thursday.

"I’m just expecting a good college battle," said Brereton, a 6-6 swingman. "This is a good team coming in. I’m excited that it’s this team, because they play really hard and I get to experience the atmosphere at home one more time."

Joaquim, 10th on the UH career scoring list at 1,154 points and third in rebounding at 791, is the only player who has been active for the duration of Arnold’s UH career. Tavita leads the Big West in assists at 5.6 per game. And Brereton, the team’s best overall shooter, has hit 24 straight at the line — five off Zane Johnson’s team record set last year.

Joaquim, of Luanda, Angola, could be UH’s best pro prospect in several seasons. Once he hires an agent, he’ll target workouts with NBA teams to figure out his chances. He’s also close to graduating with a degree in sociology this summer.

"If I can’t make the NBA, we’ll just move on from there. Maybe go overseas or something, figure it out," Joaquim said.

Tavita, of Salt Lake City, is set to graduate this spring in sociology, and may enter the workforce here or back on the mainland. He’s leaving his options open.

Brereton’s first preference is a pro hoops career, though he might parlay his ability to speak Chinese and his pending international marketing degree into a job desiring bilingual expertise.

Both Tavita and Brereton have extended family in the islands, and Brereton’s father and younger brother will be present. Joaquim will have his girlfriend, Catherine, on hand.

The team will sign autographs after the game and senior ceremonies.