Tritons take on Hawaii at home

by Bill Center

HAWAII (11-2, 3-0 Big West) at UC SAN DIEGO (11-3, 1-1 Big West Conference)

When: Today, 7 p.m.

Where: LionTree Arena.

On the air: ESPN+

Last time out: Despite identical 12-points, 12-rebounds double-doubles by 6-11 forward Bol Dengdit and 6-5 freshman guard Hudson Mayes and 17 points from guard Alex Chaikin on Wednesday night, the Tritons lost 67-65 at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (6-9, 2-1). The Tritons went scoreless over the final 3½ minutes after holding a 65-60 lead with Cal Poly taking the lead with 18 seconds to play. UCSD missed their final four shots, including a trio of threes. The Tritons went 8-for-32 from beyond the arc.

Series history: Hawaii leads 7-3 although UCSD is 2-2 at home.

Tritons update: After getting off to a 10-1 start, UCSD has lost two of its last three games by a total of four points on two late baskets and struggled in the first half against NAIA member Stanton in the Tritons’ win. F Leo Beath leads UCSD in scoring with 17.1 points per game and won national Mid-Major Player of the Week honors earlier this season. But he scored just 16 points total in the losses to the University of San Diego and Cal Poly on 4-for-19 shooting (2-for-13 from three-point range). Dengdit has 40 points and 30 rebounds over the past three games with two double-doubles.

Rainbow Warriors update: Hawaii is riding a seven-game winning streak since losing 83-76 to Arizona State. The Rainbow Warriors scored an 88-45 Big West win at UC Riverside on Thursday. 7-foot senior C Isaac Johnson leads Hawaii in scoring (13.0 points per game) and rebounding (6.7 per game) but averages only 21 minutes per game. He is shooting 53% from the floor and is 11-for-30 from three-point range. 6-6 grad G Dre Bullock is averaging 12.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Fs Harry Rouhliadeff (a 6-9 senior) and Gytis Nemelksa (a 6-8 senior) are, respectively, averaging 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds and 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.

Next up: The Tritons host Cal State Fullerton for a Big West Conference match next Thursday at 7 p.m. at LionTree Arena