03/14/26 11:43:00
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03/14 23:42 CDT Hawaii beats UC Irvine 71-64 to win Big West and clinch first
NCAA Tournament berth since 2016
Hawaii beats UC Irvine 71-64 to win Big West and clinch first NCAA Tournament
berth since 2016
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) --- Isaac Johnson scored 22 points to lead No. 2 seed
Hawaii to a 71-64 victory over top-seeded UC Irvine on Saturday night for the
Rainbow Warriors' first Big West Championship title and NCAA Tournament berth
since 2016 --- coach Eran Ganot's first with the program.
Hawaii (24-8) led for most of the game and took the lead for good on Johnson's
layup with about 10 minutes to play. UC Irvine pulled to 66-64 with 38 seconds
left but Harry Rouhliadeff answered with a layup and then Dre Bullock followed
with a breakaway two-hand slam dunk to help seal it for the Warriors.
Rouhliadeff, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds in a 78-63 win against Cal State
Fullerton in the semifinal, finished with 15 points and a season-high 12
rebounds against the Anteaters for his second double-double of the season.
Bullock also scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds for the Warriors.
Jurian Dixon scored 17 points for UC Irvine (23-11). Derin Saran and Kyle Evans
added 13 points apiece and Andre Henry had 12.
Hawaii entered 0-3 in matchups against UC Irvine in the tournament (2013, 2018
quarterfinals and 2015 finals).
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