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BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii guard Roderick Bobbitt (5) retains possession of the ball under pressure from UC Riverside guard Jaylen Bland (1) and guard Austin Quick (35) in the second half of the UC Riverside vs. Hawaii basketball game at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Hawaii point guard Roderick Bobbitt set a new team record for steals in a season by swiping the ball four times in a 73-52 win over UC Riverside on Thursday at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Bobbitt, the national leader in total steals, reached 85 on the season to surpass Tom Henderson’s 84 in the 1972-73 season.
A crowd of 4,213 saw the Rainbow Warriors (17-9, 5-5 Big West) seize control early in the game by holding the Highlanders (11-13, 4-6) scoreless for a 10-minute stretch, during which UH went on a 21-0 run. UCR was held to 26.9 percent shooting for the game.
UH moved into sole possession of fifth place in the conference. It continued its trend of alternating wins and losses in conference play, and improved to 9-0 on the full season coming off a loss.
The Rainbows got sublime bench production, with 15 points from Isaac Fleming and 12 from Stefan Jankovic. UH’s bench outscored UCR’s 43-15.
UH avenged a 66-62 loss at Riverside on Jan. 17, in which guard Garrett Nevels and swingman Negus Webster-Chan missed the game. Webster-Chan got the start Thursday, his first in eight games, replacing center Stefan Jovanovic. Webster-Chan had eight points and Nevels seven.
UCR cut a 20-point UH lead down to 12 with 12 minutes to play, but Quincy Smith scored inside and Bobbitt followed with his second 3 of the game to end the run.
UH wasn’t threatened again.
Bobbitt, who earlier this season became just the second player in program history to record a triple-double, shook off bruising to his left knee which kept him off the floor during team practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. With UH’s big second-half lead, he was able to safely sit out the last 7:49.
UCR shot just 27.3 percent in the first half as UH took a 42-28 lead into the break. Fleming scored 10 in the period. UCR’s top player, forward Taylor Johns, shot 0-for-5 from the field.
Bobbitt had three steals in the first half, tying him with Henderson.
UH continues play at home Saturday against last-place Cal State Fullerton (9-15, 1-8). Prior to the contest, the Rainbows hold their alumni game.
