Hawaii’s victory over Pacific last week featured a game-winning basket with 3.1 seconds left, a 10-assist performance by a freshman and a full-circle return to prominence for a wayward forward.
If that were not enough, it also had The Play That Shall Not Be Named.
With about 15 minutes left and UH up 45-41, frosh point guard Shaquille Stokes — who was already having an impressive game from a passing standpoint — tossed up a fast-break lob to forward Joston Thomas … in traffic, off the backboard.
The Stan Sheriff Center crowd was momentarily taken aback by the bold display, then prepared to erupt. On the sideline, fuming UH coach Gib Arnold did the same.
Even Thomas, always in the mood for alley-oops, was surprised. He adjusted and tried to complete the one-handed throwdown, but it ricocheted off the back iron and to a Pacific player.
The crowd might have been buzzing from the attempt during the ensuing timeout, but Arnold had some sobering words for his budding prodigy from New York.
"I told him ‘This isn’t Rucker League, or AAU summer ball.’ This is Division I, and in 20 years I’ve never seen anything like that," Arnold said. "I was praying that he just missed the shot, but I knew he actually tried to do that."
But if Thomas finishes that dunk?
"There’s a thin line there. A thin line. If he puts it down, then (Stokes) is probably a little bit more forgiven. But we still have a stern talk after the game," Arnold said with a smile. "But he DIDN’T put it down, and so we will never see that again."
UH (2-2) went on to win 75-70 when sophomore guard Garrett Jefferson scored a three-point play with 3.1 seconds left. A few days later, everyone involved could laugh about Stokes’ bravado.
It helped that he became the second UH freshman in two seasons to have a 10-assist game, and this one came with just one turnover. Sophomore Bobby Miles also did it last year against Chicago State.
Stokes’ shooting hasn’t been there yet (28.3 percent on 11.8 points per game), but Friday’s contest pushed him to a positive assist-to-turnover ratio.
A somewhat sheepish Stokes was happy to revisit his ill-advised-yet-riveting play.
"I know (Thomas) likes to finish great plays … If he’d made it, it would have been a spectacular play," Stokes said. "But as Coach would say, ‘But he missed it.’ I had an earful. It was fun though. I’m still learning."
Not to be lost in the discussion is Thomas, who emerged from Arnold’s preseason doghouse to put down seven of his nine field-goal attempts for 14 points in his first start of the season.
He scored six baskets in the second half, including two on lobs from Stokes. It’s a connection that started back during the team’s China summer tour, when Stokes successfully threw one off the glass to Thomas on a fast break.
"It was a pretty good game for the team, it’s not about me at all, as we seen in the first couple weeks when I was on the bench," Thomas said. "I mean, it was just a fun win for everybody out here. The coaching staff, us as players" — he paused — "and students."
Thomas announced his presence just before tip-off with his familiar clap to the crowd, something more likely to be repeated than any further UH lobs off the backboard in traffic.
"I doubt if he throws it again," Thomas said, laughing. "I doubt it."
UH leaves for a two-game California road trip on Friday. The ‘Bows will play Pepperdine on Saturday in Malibu, then play Pacific in a return game in Stockton on Tuesday.
