Thrilling Battle: University of Hawai’i Men’s Basketball Comes Up Just Short Against UC Riverside

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team faced a tough match against UC Riverside, losing 82-76. This defeat marks their third consecutive loss, leaving their record at 14-14 and 6-11 in the Big West Conference.

Thanks to CSU Bakersfield’s win in overtime against Long Beach State, UH now sits in eighth place in the conference standings, just half a game behind Bakersfield. Meanwhile, UC Riverside improved to 19-11, maintaining their fourth place.

The game was competitive, with UH leading by a single point at halftime. However, UC Riverside surged ahead in the second half, shooting an impressive 57%. Barrington Hargress was the standout for the Highlanders, scoring 25 points, while Isaiah Moses and Kaleb Smith added 12 points each.

For UH, Gytis Nemeikša led the team with 17 points, and Ryan Rapp contributed 16 points, hitting four of his six three-point attempts. Unfortunately, the rest of the team managed only three successful shots out of 18 attempts from beyond the arc. Aaron Hunkin-Clayton also made his mark with 11 points and five assists—a career high.

The first half saw both teams trading leads, with three ties and eight lead changes. Despite trailing late in the half, UH finished strong with a 12-5 run, taking a slim 36-35 lead into the break. They shot 48% in that half, bolstered by Rapp and Nemeikša’s combined scoring.

As the second half began, UH briefly held a 48-46 lead after a layup by Marcus Greene. However, UC Riverside responded with a significant 14-3 run, with Smith’s three-pointer giving them a 60-51 lead with under 11 minutes remaining.

Despite efforts to close the gap, UH couldn’t capitalize on their next possessions, allowing UC Riverside to extend the lead with more baskets. Both teams finished shooting 48% from the field, but UC Riverside excelled at the free-throw line, going 17 of 20 in the second half.

Looking ahead, the Rainbow Warriors will host their final home game against UC Davis on Saturday, March 1, at 7:00 p.m. This game will also honor five senior players as part of the Senior Night festivities.

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