LaTech makes UH ill

A patchwork lineup couldn’t make it all better.

Down starting point guard Miah Ostrowski and top scorer Zane Johnson to illnesses, the Hawaii men’s basketball team was forced to improvise against Louisiana Tech. But there would be no remedy for freshman guard Raheem Appleby as the Bulldogs escaped with a 74-70 win on Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

A crowd of about 4,250 saw UH absorb the costly Western Athletic Conference loss after the Rainbow Warriors (10-8, 2-2 WAC) hung around with a makeshift rotation. UH had several chances at a comeback win, but Appleby, a wiry, 160-pound freshman, had the antidote on this night. He scored a career-high 28 points on 10-for-15 shooting, giving the Bulldogs (9-10, 1-3) their first WAC win after dropping three straight at home.

UH tried everything it could without captains Ostrowski (staph infection) and Johnson (stomach flu), often in unorthodox ways. Seven-foot center Davis Rozitis led a fast break. Trevor Wiseman attempted a corner 3-pointer. Point guard Bobby Miles looked for his offense. Each of these examples resulted in baskets, but operating outside their season-long system ultimately took its toll on the ‘Bows, despite 51.1 percent shooting.

UH coach Gib Arnold said he learned he would be without both captains just before the game against the team picked last in the WAC preseason polls.

"We were optimistic. We thought guys would step up given that chance," Arnold said. "And you know, it just didn’t happen. You don’t get many chances like that, but you’re hoping guys step up and take that role.

"We had no leadership whatsoever. None. Absolutely none. I’ll take that one, because it’s my team and I need to lead this team even when it’s down and out."

UH’s last, and perhaps best, chance at extending the game came in the final 10 seconds with LaTech up 73-70. The Bulldogs attempted a long inbounds pass, and Wiseman got a steal in the backcourt as the crowd erupted. UH might have had a chance at a set 3-pointer to tie, but in the chaos Wiseman attempted a deep running 3 with about 4 seconds left. It was well short and out of bounds, and LaTech’s next inbounds with 1.1 seconds left would allow it to hit a free throw and ice it.

Up next: WAC co-leader New Mexico State (14-5, 4-0) on Saturday. The Aggies figure to offer a much stiffer test than LaTech. Arnold said he didn’t know when Johnson and Ostrowski would return.

Forward Joston Thomas tried to pick up the slack with a team-high 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting, but that would be the beginning and end of UH’s difference-makers at the offensive end. Center Vander Joaquim scored 11 and fouled out with six turnovers with 5:08 to play.

"I don’t really know where to start," Thomas said. "Those guys was out, we tried to pull this one through. … That’s a tough one."

Without offensive catalyst Ostrowski — with whom UH is 8-3 — and sharpshooter Johnson, Arnold started Shaquille Stokes and Miles in the backcourt. They combined for 20 points on 6-for-18 shooting, with nine assists against six turnovers.

Stokes gave UH its last lead at 56-55 on a 3 with 8:30 to play. It was short-lived, as forward Romario Souza put the Bulldogs back up with a hook shot.

Stokes had another 3-point look to tie with LaTech up 71-68 with 30 seconds left, but it was off the mark and UH had to resort to fouling.

First-year LaTech coach Michael White got the complete-game effort his team was searching for. Appleby in particular supplied it on a series of runners.

"He has such great hands, the touch on his floaters and runners is phenomenal, as good as I’ve ever coached," White said. "He’s a tremendous player and he’s got a lot of heart and he does it on both ends. He doesn’t take plays off."

Guard Cordarius Johnson added 14 points on 4-for-6 shooting on 3s for LaTech.

Former LaTech coach Kerry Rupp, fired at the end of last season, got no satisfaction as the UH director of basketball operations.

LaTech’s fullcourt pressure forced several turnovers and the Bulldogs succeeded in bottling up Joaquim, who had a clear height advantage down low, with constant double teams.

The Bulldogs led by four at halftime. Thomas energized the crowd with a fast-break tomahawk throwdown early in the second half to make it 41-38 LaTech. The visitors held a narrow second-half lead until Joaquim hit a hook shot for a 46-45 lead with 14 minutes left.

LaTech came right back with a 3-pointer, but Thomas hit two free throws to knot it at 48. Appleby hit a 3-pointer and a runner to help boost the visitors’ lead back to 55-49 at the midpoint of the half.

The Bulldogs earned a 38-30 first-half lead, but Joaquim hit a free throw and Wiseman hit his second 3-pointer of the season to make it 38-34 LaTech at halftime.