UH, Tulsa take aim at lead

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Three will be a key number when the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team plays host to Tulsa tomorrow.

	Hawai'i men's basketball
•	WHEN: Tomorrow vs. Tulsa, 7 p.m.; Saturday vs. Rice, 7 p.m.
•	WHERE: Stan Sheriff Center.
•	TV: Live on K5
•	RADIO: Live on 1420-AM

The Rainbow Warriors are 21-4 overall and 12-2 in the Western Athletic Conference. The Golden Hurricane is 22-4 and 13-2.

It is a much-anticipated first-place showdown between the only 20-win teams in the conference. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"The pressure's not going to be off no matter if you win or lose, because we both have games after this," UH head coach Riley Wallace said. "But whoever wins is in control, so it's big from that standpoint."

Added Tulsa head coach John Phillips: "To be honest, every game (in the WAC) is big because you can't afford any slip-ups. But there's certainly a lot at stake for both of us when you consider the WAC (championship) and NCAA Tournament."

The game will feature the WAC's two most prolific 3-point shooting teams, and some of the nation's best long-range shooters.

The 'Bows already have 170 3-pointers this season, and are just seven away from establishing a school record. Nine of those came in a 90-82 victory over Tulsa at the Donald W. Reynolds Center in Tulsa, Okla., last month.

"We want people going into games thinking they need to stop a certain player," said UH senior tri-captain Mike McIntyre, who drained a career-high six 3-pointers in the victory at Tulsa. "We have so many weapons, we feel like if you concentrate on one guy, somebody else will open up and start hitting."

As good as Hawai'i has been from 3-point range, Tulsa has been even better.

The Golden Hurricane leads the WAC with 206 3-pointers (Hawai'i is second). Tulsa also leads the WAC and is fourth in the nation with a .419 percentage from 3-point range (Hawai'i is second in the WAC at .376).

"The big reason why we're so successful at it is because everybody on the team can hit a big 3," said senior point guard Greg Harrington. "We can put any five guys on the court, and either four, or all five, can knock it down."

Dante Swanson, a 5-foot-10 junior guard, leads Tulsa with 63 3-pointers. He also leads the nation with an amazing .548 percentage from 3-point range.

"Sometimes, I look at the numbers and it doesn't seem like it's right," Swanson said. "But I guess I've just been taking good shots. I don't try to force anything. I don't take it unless I'm wide open."

Playing on a sprained ankle, Swanson had his worst game of the season against Hawai'i, going 0-for-4 from 3-point range. He said the injury is now fully healed.

"I didn't play aggressive in that game, and we lost," he said. "I know I have to step it up this time to help us turn it around."

Since losing to Hawai'i, Tulsa has won seven consecutive games.

The 'Bows scored a season-high 90 points against Tulsa, but don't necessarily want to get caught in a shootout this time.

"It happens that our games are similar," McIntyre said. "But our mentality is not to match them. I think it's more important to stop them from shooting their 3s. If we defend first, our offense will come around."

Despite its gaudy shooting statistics, Tulsa is also taking a defense-first approach.

"McIntyre has been a thorn in our side," Phillips said. "It was the timing of his shots that hurt us more than anything. So that's what we need to work on — preventing them from hitting those big buckets at key moments."