Gibson helps 'Bows shoot down Spartans
By Mark Gomez
Special to The Advertiser
SAN JOSE, Calif. — "Little Matt" Gibson had been mired in a slump recently for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team — think 3 of 21 from the field in his last four games — and it wasn't getting much better yesterday at San Jose State. As the first half expired, the sophomore guard missed an uncontested 3-point shot.
John Todd • Associated Press
"It's been a while since I had an open, set 3 and that one just rimmed out," Gibson said. "I went in at halftime and said 'I'm not missing any more today.' "
Forward "Big Matt" Gipson slams off an assist from Julian Sensley during Hawai'i's win at San Jose State.
Officially, Gibson missed once in the second half, but that was sandwiched between a career-high 23 points that sparked Hawai'i to an 84-73 victory over San Jose State at the Event Center.
It was Hawai'i's first road win in the Western Athletic Conference this season and should give the Rainbow Warriors (13-5 overall, 5-5 WAC) momentum as they prepare for two more road games at Louisiana Tech and Southern Methodist next week.
It was the second time this season that Hawai'i defeated San Jose State (6-13 overall, 3-7 WAC).
The 'Bows sank a season-best 13 3-pointers as Gibson, guard Jake Sottos (17 points) and forward Julian Sensley (22 points) combined to score 62 points. Gibson and Sottos each went 5 for 8 from 3-point range, and Sensley made 3 of 6.
But Gibson did the most damage, scoring 19 of his points and sinking all five of his 3-pointers in the second half.
"It wasn't like we weren't guarding him. He looked like Jason Williams tonight," San Jose State head coach Phil Johnson said, referring to the Memphis Grizzlies guard. "It was catch and fire with a guy in his face. He gets it off too quick."
The teams played close throughout the first half until Hawai'i went into halftime with a 36-26 lead by scoring 10 unanswered points. The 'Bows increased that margin to 17 by hitting four 3-point goals in five possessions to open the second half.
Gibson sank three of them.
John Todd • Associated Press
"I've been talking to Jake a little bit. He kept on telling me a shooter has got to shoot his way out," Gibson said, referring to Sottos. "I just tried to take my shots as they came."
Julian Sensley scored 22 points, including three of the 'Bows' season-best 13 3-pointers, in an 84-73 win over San Jose State.
The Spartans rallied behind forward Marquin Chandler, who scored 10 points in a four-minute stretch to highlight a 12-0 run that cut Hawai'i's lead to 54-51. Chandler used an array of shots to score a game-high 32 points, including a 5 for 5 effort from 3-point range.
"Chandler is big-time," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "We couldn't stop him tonight. He was shooting outside, inside, on the move, banking them in."
Sensley helped swing the momentum back to Hawai'i with a driving slam dunk, and then an assist to "Big Matt" Gipson for another dunk. Sensley led the 'Bows with eight rebounds and six assists.
"Julian made a statement after the last game, he was ready to step it up and get after it every night because this team needs for him to," Wallace said. "And he did that."
Gibson delivered the clinching shots in the final three minutes by sinking two 3-pointers.
"We played good defense, pretty much," Chandler said. "They just made shots. We made a good run and got it close, they hit a 3. We make a basket and they hit a 3. The 3s pretty much killed us."
