Rainbow Warriors roll by UH-Hilo, 75-49
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
It was a case of big brother beating up little brother yesterday as Hawai'i-Manoa defeated Hawai'i-Hilo, 75-49, in a men's college exhibition game.
Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser
A crowd of 2,950 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Warriors make their first public appearance since being introduced at Midnight Ohana on Oct. 15.
University of Hawai'i-Manoa forward Matt Gipson throws down two his five points against the University of Hawai'i-Hilo in a men's exhibition basketball game at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"I gave (us) a grade of about 60 out of 100 percent," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "We have to get our intensity level up."
The 'Bows struggled early in the game before establishing a clear edge in size and talent over the NCAA Division II Vulcans. The most telling statistic — besides the final score — was Hawai'i's 46-26 advantage in rebounds.
The 'Bows lead at halftime was only 33-28, but they broke it open with an 18-4 run to start the second half.
Senior forward Jeff Blackett had game-highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the 'Bows.
"The thing about this year ... you never know who's going to do it," Blackett said. "Night in and night out, this team could have five or six people in double-digits."
Chris Botez, the team's new 7-foot center, contributed 12 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
"A little nerve-wracking," Botez said of his debut in a Hawai'i uniform. "But I still had to have that focus, that mentality to just go out there and do what I have to do as a big man."
Wallace added: "Fans will really enjoy watching a big man who can run the floor like that and do the things he does."
Sophomore Bobby Nash scored all 11 of his points in the second half. New shooting guard Matt Gibson added nine points, and drew praise from Wallace for his defensive play.
Blackett and Julian Sensley — the top returning players from last season — played 28 minutes each, but the rest of the playing time was more or less divided equally among the other nine scholarship players.
"It's nice because everyone brings something different," Blackett said. "Once we get used to that, it'll be real fun. I think we're going to be good."
Blackett
Wallace started Gibson and Jake Sottos in the backcourt, Sensley and Blackett at the forwards, and Botez at center. However, Wallace said the team is still in the process of identifying roles.
"I know it's going to be hard, more so than in past years," he said. "If all 11 (scholarship players) are out there really working hard, it would be fun to use all 11 guys."
The 'Bows never trailed in the first half, but committed nine turnovers and could not pull away from the scrappy Vulcans.
"They killed us on the boards in the first half, but our energy was good and it made us survive some rough spots," UH-Hilo head coach Jeff Law said. "In the second half, they moved it up a notch and we couldn't."
Wallace started new point guard Kris Groce in the second half, and he drained two 3-pointers to spark the 18-4 surge. Hawai'i committed just two turnovers in the second half.
True to his word, Wallace experimented with various lineups throughout the game.
"No one's selfish, everyone likes to swing the ball," Gibson said. "When a man's hot, you hit him."
Hawai'i's big men — Botez, 6-9 Sensley, 6-9 Matthew Gipson and 6-8 Blackett — combined to grab 30 rebounds. UH-Hilo did not start a player taller than 6-6.
"We didn't box out really well, but we were so big over them that we got a lot of rebounds," Wallace said.
Osadonor Esene led Hilo with 15 points, and Terrance Troupe added 11.
The final result and statistics will not count for either team, but both coaches said the exhibition was a much-needed experience.
Both teams will go back to picking on teams their own size next week.
The 'Bows open their regular season at home against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 23; the Vulcans will open at home against Carleton College (Minn.) on Nov. 24.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
