Move over, Reggie Carter. Hawaii’s exclusive triple-double club has a new member.
Junior point guard Roderick Bobbitt became just the second player in program history to go double-digits in three categories in a game as he recorded 12 points, 10 assists and 10 steals in an 89-71 romp over Hawaii Hilo on Wednesday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The steals were a single-game UH record.
89 HAWAII 71 HAWAII HILO
KEY: UH guard Roderick Bobbitt gets 12 points, 10 assists, 10 steals NEXT: UH vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. Friday, Wailuku, Maui. Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
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Bobbitt found out there was only one UH player to precede him with a triple-double — Carter’s came way back in 1975 against Yale — when he got to the locker room. That it came against the Division II Vulcans did not lessen his appreciation for the feat.
"I don’t even know how to feel right now. It’s still hitting me. It’s pretty cool though, to say the least," said Bobbitt, who notched three triple-doubles last season at Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College.
UH (3-1) bounced back quickly from a 62-54 home loss to High Point early Tuesday morning. It did so by forcing 25 turnovers by the Vulcans (1-2), including swiping 19 steals, one off the UH team record. Bobbitt was hunting them out early and often.
"I love playing the passing lanes for the most part," he said. "Act like I’m not looking at the defender, and as soon as (they pass), I take off."
His 10 steals broke Tony Webster’s record of nine set in 1983 against Air Force.
He said he knew he had a chance at the triple-double early on when he had four steals by halftime.
"I knew I could get my teammates involved and my shots were going to come when they came," he said. "I focused on the defensive end and getting my teammates the ball."
He left to a round of applause from the crowd of 1,966 with 1:52 to play.
Asked about Bobbitt, UH coach Benjy Taylor played it cool.
"That’s what he does," Taylor said. "He’s a stat-stuffer. I knew he’d bounce back tonight because he was disappointed in the loss Monday night. … I thought he deserved that tonight."
Sophomore forward Aaron Valdes scored a career-best 31 points on 11-for-15 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds to keep the Rainbow Warriors ahead wire to wire. His dunk with 2:45 to play sealed the triple-double.
"Playing with Rod makes it a lot easier," Valdes said. "He knows when to find us on the lobs. Right time, right places."
Guard Garrett Nevels scored 14 and the reserve backcourt of Isaac Fleming and Quincy Smith combined for 23 points, helping overcome a second straight disappointing game for Negus Webster-Chan. The Missouri transfer went 0-for-5 (after an 0-for-8 game against High Point), went scoreless and committed five turnovers.
"He’ll get better. He’ll get better. He’s a really good basketball player," Taylor said. "You’re talking about a guy who’s played four games in the last year and a half (after redshirting), really."
UH notched 21 team assists, its high mark in its first four games.
Junior guard Brandon Jawato appeared in the final minute, his first game action since undergoing ankle surgery in the offseason and suffering a serious concussion in the preseason.
Reyes likely out for season
UH freshman forward Sammis Reyes will likely redshirt the 2014-15 season after breaking his right hand at team practice on Tuesday afternoon, according to team sources.
He is expected to have surgery and could miss up to two months of court time.
"I’m going to have to defer that question," Taylor said after the Hilo game. "I’m not sure what Sammis’ status is. I know it’s precarious at the moment. Let me just say that."
Reyes did not play in any of the Rainbow Warriors’ first three games during the Outrigger Resorts Rainbow Classic. He announced plans to leave the program in the wake of ex-head coach Gib Arnold’s firing on Oct. 28, but then changed his mind and rejoined the team last week Thursday — the day before the season opener.