Holiday cheer was the Hawaii basketball team’s rousing 70-62 overtime victory over Colorado on Sunday afternoon.
“Unbelievable game,” coach Eran Ganot said of the outcome that vaulted the Rainbow Warriors into the fifth-place game of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic on Christmas Day. “Unbelievable atmosphere.”
Colorado entered the tournament as a favorite to reach the title game. But the Buffaloes’ six-game winning streak ended in the opening round against Indiana State, and they were miscast against the ’Bows’ ensemble of gritty players.
UH forward Jack Purchase hit an important 3, missed one with two seconds left in regulation, and then buried what Ganot termed the “biggest shot of the game.” Post player Zigmars Raimo tied a tournament record by suctioning 17 rebounds, including six off the offensive glass. Point guard Drew Buggs drained a go-ahead 3 and made two defensive stops in the extra period. And Brocke Stepteau came off the bench for the second consecutive game to orchestrate the ’Bows’ closing performance.
“He’s got a history of making big plays — ‘Late Clock Brocke,’ ” Ganot said of the fifth-year senior and co-captain. “Whether it’s the shot or the pass, he creates a lot of separation for us.”
Colorado’s offense revolves around point guard McKinley Wright, who entered as the team’s per-game leader in scoring (14.3 points) and assists (5.9). But Wright, facing a succession of defenders, did not launch his first shot — a baby hook off a drive — until 5:47 remaining in the first half. Wright made that attempt, and his next six.
“He’s a handful,” Ganot said of Wright. “We respect him.”
Wright’s floater on a baseline drive extended the Buffaloes’ margin to 54-51 with 1:39 left in regulation. It would be the Buffaloes’ final lead of the game. Soon after, Purchase sank a three to tie it at 54.
It was tied at 56 when Purchase received a pass at the top of the key. But his shot lipped out with two seconds left, and Buggs’ tip did not fall.
In the gathering before the start of the extra period, the UH coaches stressed their mantra.
“We talk about ‘play forever … play forever,’ ” Ganot said. “That’s what we live for. If you have a mentality of you’re fatigued or tired, you’re going to be cooked. Our guys were revved up to finish the game.”
Stepteau opened by driving the lane, hitting the layup while being bumped, and making the free throw to complete a three-point play.
Later, Stepteau found Buggs curling off a screen. Buggs’ 3 — his first of the game and only his eighth of the season — broke a 59-all tie.
“That’s something I practice every day, that shot specifically,” Buggs said. “Brocke did a good job. My man was tagging off the ball screen. (Stepteau) made a great pass. Right in rhythm, I just shot it.”
With UH leading 62-60, Stepteau, who is 5-foot-9, was guarded by 6-10 Lucas Siewart. Stepteau drove the lane, cut across the baseline and fired a pass to Purchase at the top of the key. Purchase’s 3 was true with 53.5 seconds left, giving the ’Bows a sufficient cushion.
“I was planning on shooting it, but I didn’t have the angle,” Stepteau said of his initial drive. “I kind of baited (Siewart) into following me. I looked out to the 3-point line and saw Jack in the spot he’s supposed to be and I hit him. We all want Jack to shoot as many 3s as we can get him to shoot. We all had confidence it was going in.”
The ’Bows had played well defensively but were out-rebounded in Saturday’s loss to UNLV. Against Colorado, they built a 48-35 rebounding advantage.
“I’m really proud of our team, as proud as I’ve been over the years because of what they’ve been going through, and to respond the next day,” Ganot said.
Indiana State 84, UNLV 79
HONOLULU >> Jordan Barnes had 28 points and five assists, Tyreke Key added 16 points and the Sycamores beat the Runnin’ Rebels.
Barnes’ 3-pointer with 43 seconds left extended Indiana State’s lead to 81-77 and he added two free throws on their next possession. UNLV missed a shot and Key made 1 of 2 free throws to seal it.
Emondre Rickman added 13 points with two blocked shots and Bronson Kessinger had 11 points for Indiana State. Rickman needs two blocks to tie Nate Green for fourth in program history.
TCU 82, Bucknell 65
The Horned Frogs had six players in double-figure scoring, led by junior guard Desmond Bane’s 16, when winning their seventh straight.
Senior guard Alex Robinson, who tied the tournament single-game record with 11 assists on Saturday, had 11 on Sunday to go along with his 11 points. He is one assist away from tying the tournament record of 23, set by Kyle Collinsworth of BYU in 2015.
TCU finished with 15 assists, well off its nation-leading average of 21.2.
Rhode Island 75, Charlotte 61
Sophomore guard Fatts Russell scored 20 points and the Rams survived a major meltdown which saw two 20-point leads in the first half get cut to five several times in the second by the 49ers.
Junior guard Jeff Dowtin added 15 and junior forward Cyril Langevine finished with his seventh double-double of the year (13 points-11 rebounds).
