Rainbow Warriors spank Spartans, 71-45
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
On "Military Night," the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team proved it's always better to have a big arsenal.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
The Rainbow Warriors got the big win they wanted last night by utilizing their size in a 71-45 blowout of San Jose State.
Hawai'i's Julian Sensley, left, tries for a tip-in against San Jose State's Alex Elam during first-half action.
A crowd of 6,485 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the 'Bows rebound from their first two losses of the season last week to improve to 9-2 overall and 1-2 in the Western Athletic Conference. The Spartans dropped to 3-9 and 0-3 with their seventh consecutive loss.
"It's bigger versus smaller and sometimes smaller will beat big if they're quicker," Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace said. "But I thought we came out to play as good as we have all year long."
It was Hawai'i's biggest margin of victory this season, and the biggest margin of victory ever by a UH team over San Jose State.
"The main thing is we were working as a team tonight," Hawai'i junior forward Julian Sensley said. "There were no individuals out there trying to take over the game."
The proof was in the statistics.
Sensley recorded a statistical double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead Hawai'i to a 44-25 advantage in rebounding.
Reserve forward Vaidotas Peciukas scored a season-high 13 points, including 12 in the second half, to lead Hawai'i's balanced attack. "Little Matt" Gibson added 12 points and four assists, and Chris Botez had 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting and seven rebounds.
"We came out and played aggressive from the get-go tonight," Wallace said. "When we do that, we're going to play big. When we come out and play passive, then we're not very good."
San Jose State star Marquin Chandler scored the first basket of the game, then it was all Hawai'i after that.
The 'Bows went on a 14-0 run, which was highlighted by four dunks in a two-minute span.
"We definitely cracked their back at the start there and they were never really in the game, I thought," Hawai'i forward "Big Matt" Gipson said. "That quick start was definitely a key. We got up on them early so that they couldn't control the tempo."
Gipson had seven points and six rebounds in his first start of the season. Senior Jeff Blackett, who did not start because of a skin infection near his chest and a stress fracture in his foot, added eight points.
Gipson and Blackett also combined to help limit Chandler to 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting. Chandler, who entered the game ranked second in the WAC with 20.0 points per game, also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
"We really got into their stuff defensively in the first half," Wallace said. "Their poor shooting was partly because of our defense."
The 'Bows took a 32-13 lead at intermission as San Jose State made just 4 of 22 field goals in the first half. Chandler (seven points) and Alex Elam (six) were the only Spartans to score in the first half.
"Intensity," is how Botez explained the defensive effort. "Lots of intensity."
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
UH's starting frontline of the 7-foot Botez, 6-9 Gipson and 6-9 Sensley combined to out-score and out-rebound the entire San Jose State team in the first half, with 19 points and 17 rebounds before halftime.
Hawai'i 7-footer Chris Botez shows off his handles as he drives against San Jose State's Matt Misko.
The Spartans started three guards alongside 6-10 Matt Misko and 6-7 Chandler.
"We just dominated," Wallace said of the first half. "We took them out of everything they wanted to do."
San Jose State never got closer than 15 in the second half, and Hawai'i increased the lead to as many as 31 late in the game.
All 12 Hawai'i players in uniform saw action, with 10 scoring.
San Jose State head coach Phil Johnson said the rebounding difference was the biggest difference in the game.
"You can worry about their offense, worry about our offense; none of that matters if you can't rebound," Johnson said. "We talked about it as the No. 1 key to the game."
Hawai'i was out-rebounded 50-26 in its previous game at Nevada, and Wallace chastised his big men about it all week in practice.
"It gave me a little jump start, personally," Gipson said of the grueling week of practice leading to last night's game.
Prior to last night, San Jose State had traditionally caused problems for the 'Bows. But as Wallace put it: "His teams are always prepared defensively for what we do and we were still able to get our stuff that we wanted. That pleases me that the guys came out and really responded to the coaching we gave them this week."
Hawai'i will continue its three-game home stand with another WAC contest against Southern Methodist on Saturday.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
