By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Even in a tense 76-73 victory over Tulsa, it can be said the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team won this one in a walk.

The telling walk from the locker room back to the court after halftime last night, to be more precise.

That was when the Julian Sensley we've all been waiting to see stood up to his full 6-foot-9, 40-minute best and took control of what was, at the time, a precarious situation. It was when he resolutely looked his Rainbow Warrior teammates in the eye and, in a tone that left no doubt, told them it was his game and he was taking control of it.

"He said he wanted the ball. He said, 'I'm gonna take over this game,' — and he did," forward Jeff Blackett said in the wake of UH's 12th victory against five losses.

"He told us to get him the ball because he was gonna take over," Blackett said. "When Julian says something like that you believe him because you know he can do it."

Indeed, there has never been much doubt this season that Sensley is fully capable of dominating any game he sets his mind and considerable skills toward conquering.

In flashes that can inspire oohs and aahs, we've seen Sensley rattle backboards with dunks and caress nets with 3-pointers. We've seen him whirl and leave defenders dumbstruck and pick up the 'Bows, place them on his back and carry them.

We just hadn't seen it enough this season. Or, recently. Especially when the 'Bows' shots weren't dropping and they had no one else to turn to in crunch time.

But this time — and just in time — Sensley went from mild-mannered forward to hulking force. Trailing 36-30 at halftime — a deficit that became 12 (42-30) before coach Riley Wallace could unleash his first tirade, Sensley shed his hesitancy. He parked his reluctance to step outside the team concept and took over the game in a manner that brought the 6,244 on hand to their feet and the 'Bows to their best.

In a nine-minute stretch that went from a 12-point deficit to a five-point UH lead, Sensley came up with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal, popping 3-pointers from the corner and slamming a one-handed dunk. And, in the middle of it all, he pumped his fists and howled to the crowd.

"He just took it over," Wallace said. "He wanted it and he did it all."

Let us count the ways. Sensley scored 21 points — 14 in the second half — grabbed eight rebounds, dished four assists, blocked two shots and held Jarius Glenn, the Golden Hurricane's top scorer, to six second-half points.

"I took it upon myself to be more aggressive," Sensley said. "It was a personal thing that I knew I needed to do. My teammates look at me to do. From now on, I'll try to take that role. I have to find a way."

His teammates, heading into a three-game road stretch to San Jose State, Louisiana Tech and SMU, will be counting on him.

"(Last night) was a starting point for him for the rest of the season," Blackett said. "Everyone is going to see a changed Julian Sensley."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.