Hawaiʻi Basketball Recaps
Hawaiʻi Basketball Recaps
Hawaiʻi men's basketball holds off Chaminade in exhibition thriller!
'Bows fight from 7-point gap to turn back Division II Chaminade!
Mathew Vasconcellos, 7GEN Trainee, October 26, 2025
The University of Hawaiʻi Men's Basketball team found themselves down seven in the second half, but thanks to Hunter Erickson and Dre Bullock, they were able to beat the Division II Chaminade Silverswords, 93-87, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday.
Bullock's 23 points and eight rebounds led a trio of double-digit scoring 'Bows. Harry Rouhliadeff added 17 of his own, along with eight rebounds. Erickson scored all 10 of his points in a critical three-minute stretch in the second half. Returnee Gytis Nemeikša, in his season debut, added eight points and a critical game-high 12 rebounds as well.
Kent King led the Silverswords with 23 points and nine rebounds. Nathan Medina added 17 before he was forced to leave due to an injury. Roland Banks II and Nate Sasser III added 14 each in the loss.
UH hit the ground running and scored six of the first eight points of the game. Chaminade made a push, but Tanner Cuff banked a triple to extend UH's lead, 9-4.
UH was able to pull as much as a nine-point gap and led from start to finish in the first half. Despite making 13 of their 23 total free throw attempts and committing 10 turnovers, UH still led the way. At halftime, UH led Chaminade, 43-40.
UH started the second half rocky with a turnover on its opening possession, and Rouhliadeff missed a shot three straight times. It resulted in a Sasser triple for Chaminade to tie the game on the next possession.
Bullock aided in an 11-2 UH run after that, but Chaminade's pressure put the 'Bows in binds left and right. UH did not self-destruct, but they would lose the lead at the 12:39 mark off a Sasser fast break free throw.
Chaminade kept up the pressure and forced more Hawaiʻi turnovers. They pulled as much as an 8-point gap by the 8:31 mark.
UH put their heads down and went to work. Bullock began an adrenaline-filled UH attack with a dunk at the 7:51 mark. Erickson then took command of the proverbial ship and scored his 10 critical points down the stretch.
A Nemeikša tip-in with 3:28 remaining put UH in front for good. They got things together at the free throw line and made their free throws down the stretch. In total, UH had outscored Chaminade, 20-5, to end the game.
UH will hit the road for its regular season opener at Oregon on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. HST, and you can listen to the game on ESPN Honolulu or watch the game on the Big Ten Network.
Hawaiʻi men's basketball wins by 50 in Pomona-Pitzer exhibition
'Bows put on clinic in exhibition game against Pomona-Pitzer!
Mathew Vasconcellos, 7GEN Trainee, October 18, 2025
The University of Hawaiʻi Men's Basketball team put on a clinic in its first of two exhibition games with a 101-51 win over the Division III Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday.
Newcomers Isaac Johnson and Dre Bullock led a six-pack of double-digit scoring 'Bows with 18 apiece. Returnee Harry Rouhliadeff added 15 of his own, followed by newcomer Hunter Erickson's 14. Fellow newcomers Jalen Myers and Isaac Finlinson contributed 10 each while Tanner Cuff added eight points and eight rebounds, and a team-high seven assists.
Charlie Hutchinson led the Sagehens with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Clyde Rosenberg added 10 points and two rebounds of his own in the loss.
UH began with some immediate fire and scored the first six points while Pomona-Pitzer took some time to get going. UH pulled out an early 21-9 lead from a Myers 3-point play. The 'Bows did not look back from that point forward and shot a good 53% in the first half.
UH hit the ground running again in the second half. They immediately outscored Pomona-Pitzer, 19-4, early and cruised to the win.
With Cuff and Erickson leading the charge, UH found themselves doubled up over Pomona-Pitzer on numerous occasions.
By the end of the game, UH had outscored Pomona-Pitzer in the paint, 66-16! They shot just under 60% for the game with Bullock and Johnson going a combined 14-for-16 from the field.
UH will return to the Stan Sheriff Center for its final exhibition matchup against the Chaminade Silverswords on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. HST. Parking and admission will be free, and you can listen to the game on ESPN Honolulu.
KCBL Warriors Vs. KCBL Rockets Recap
Warriors’ tough second half effort leads to championship!
Mathew Vasconcellos, 7GEN Trainee, September 21, 2025
The KCBL Warriors used a gritty and tough second half to win the 2025 Division II Championship over the KCBL Rockets, 38-32, at Kalaheo High School in Kailua on Sunday!
The Warriors scored eight of the first 10 points in the first half while the Rockets were held to two made free throws.
At the 12:08 mark, the Rockets made their first field goal of the game. The Warriors made the next field goal, but the Rockets generated a 14-2 run to jump in front.
At halftime, the Rockets took a five-point lead, 17-12.
In the second half, the Warriors and Rockets exchanged field goals through the first six-and-a-half minutes; however, the Rockets still maintained their five-point lead.
The Warriors made some clutch baskets and attained control in the final eight minutes. They would take the lead with 5:48 remaining. With 2:49 left, they extended their lead to five, 32-27, but the Rockets made one last push.
With 57.2 seconds left, the Rockets pulled within one, 33-32, off two made Chase free throws; however, the Rockets turned the ball over two times in the next 20 seconds.
The Warriors scored the final five points to end the game, which included two clutch Nixon free throws with 10.6 seconds left.
KCBL Warriors Vs. KCBL Blazers Recap
Warriors turn back Blazers en route to another victory!
Mathew Vasconcellos, 7GEN Trainee, September 14, 2025
At Kalaheo High School in Kailua, the KCBL Warriors executed well and defeated the KCBL Blazers, 38-23, on Sunday.
The Warriors got out to score the first six points of the game while the Blazers had trouble starting something for themselves. Despite a 7-2 run from the Blazers, the Warriors maintained a slim lead, 8-7.
The Blazers tried what they could, but the Warriors outscored them, 7-3, by the three-minute mark of the first half. It was 15-10, Warriors.
The Warriors maintained their lead, 18-12, by the end of the first half.
Any hope the Blazers had for a comeback in the second half was almost immediately extinguished. Both the Warriors and Blazers exchanged a field goal early, but the Warriors hit the ground running the quickest.
The Blazers fell further behind, but they cut the gap back to six, 25-19; unfortunately, that was the closest they’d get in the final 13 minutes of the second half.
The Warriors spurted ahead and ended the game on a 13-4 run for the final score.
KCBL Celtics turn back KCBL Blazers in double overtime thriller!
Celtics earn clutch win over Blazers in double overtime!
Mathew Vasconcellos, 7GEN Trainee, September 7, 2025
At Kalaheo High School Gym in Kailua, the Celtics led by as many as 16 over the Blazers and won, 40-39, in double overtime on Sunday.
The Celtics raced out to score the first 16 points of the first half. Due to Kailua Community Basketball League rules, opponents’ defense had to be moved outside the paint.
The Blazers used the mercy rule to its advantage and used an 11-0 run at the 10:55 mark to get back in the Celtics’ neighborhood. They managed to hold the Celtics to just two points the rest of the first half. It was 18-16 Celtics at the end of the first.
The Celtics began the second half with a triple, but the Blazers did not let them get away. The Celtics kept a margin of 3-5 points for much of the second half.
The Blazers finally took their first lead at the 12:45 mark, but the Celtics did not back down.
With under a minute to go, the Blazers took the lead, 36-34, off two free throws, but the Celtics made the next field goal to tie the game again.
The Blazers were down by one, 37-36, when they went 1-for-2 at the free throw line. Overtime was needed to decide the winner once and for all.
The Blazers then began the one-minute overtime period with two made free throws to take the lead, but that was short-lived. The Celtics made the only field goal to tie the score at 39 and force a sudden death second overtime period.
In the second overtime, the Celtics secured the win with a good free throw for the final score.