UH Vs. UCR (3/5/26)
One down, one to go!
The University of Hawaiʻi Men's Basketball team assured themselves at least the second seed in the 2026 Big West Tournament with a 93-74 win over the UC Riverside Highlanders at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on Thursday!
The win for UH marked their second season sweep over UC Riverside in the last three seasons!
Gytis Nemeikša poured in 19 points off the bench to lead the 'Bows! Dre Bullock and Isaac Finlinson added in 17 points apiece; Bullock was 6-of-11 from the field while Finlinson was 5-of-8. Harry Rouhliadeff chipped in 13 points himself in the win! Isaac Johnson rounded out the five-pack of double-digit scoring 'Bows with 11.
Andrew Henderson led a trio of double-digit scoring Highlanders with 26 points and was 5-of-10 from 3-point range! Marqui Worthy added 17 points himself and was 3-of-7 from 3-point range. BJ Kolly added 12 himself in the loss.
Worthy drew first blood to begin the game, but UH's Rouhliadeff responded with an assisted layup from Hunter Erickson. Both UH and UCR were close, but UH was the first to uncork a significant run.
With the score tied at 18 with 12:09 to go, UH unleashed an 8-0 run that would ultimately allow them to keep the lead for good, but UCR did not go down quietly.
Riverside tried to make some pushes, but Hawaiʻi did not fall victim to a big scoring drought. Riverside fell behind by as many as 10, but they shaved the gap down to seven by halftime.
UH led the way at halftime, 46-39. They shot 64% in the first half and missed only three free throws (17-of-20) as well.
Worthy hit a triple to begin the second half, but Rouhliadeff responded with a triple of his own.
Riverside made some pushes and had cut the gap down to one point, 54-53, off a Kolly 3-point play with 16:33 to go.
UH's Finlinson stopped that surge with a layup on the next possession. It started a 6-0 UH run, but UCR got a triple back from Henderson after that.
With over nine minutes to go, and UH leading 68-63, UH would ultimately lock up the game with a 13-3 run despite Rouhliadeff and Johnson saddled with four fouls.
For Riverside, despite making nine triples to Hawaiʻi's four, that 13-3 run was ultimately their undoing.
UH improves to 22-7 overall and 14-5 in the Big West in 2025-26! The 'Bows will conclude their final Big West season with their final home game against Long Beach State on Saturday, Mar. 7! Tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm HST, and you can watch the game on Spectrum Sports or listen on the radio at ESPN Honolulu!
