If you can break a record set by Tom Henderson you’re doing pretty well.

That’s not just because Henderson is one of the best two or three players in University of Hawaii basketball history and went on to the U.S. Olympic team and the NBA.

It’s also because any records he set have stood for more than 40 years.

His single-season steals mark Roderick Bobbitt broke Thursday night was set in 1973. That record is so old it was two NCAA investigations ago. It’s so old that David Ige, who attended his first UH basketball game Thursday as governor, was in high school when Henderson set it.

“Rod actually came into the year and said I want to do something special. … He said, ‘I want to lead the nation in steals,’” UH coach Benjy Taylor said after the Rainbow Warriors 73-52 rout of UC Riverside. “He’s on his way. … He’s a specialist and he has no problem owning up to that. I think he’ll break (his own record) next year.”

Bobbitt, nursing a tender left knee, came out earlier than he would have in a close game.

“It feels good, like I’ve been saying it was a goal of mine, to lead the nation in steals,” he said.

UH dominated, but on the downside Hawaii Tech was called for two more of basketball’s version of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. One for freshman Isaac Fleming and one for Bobbitt.

“I guess we’ve got a bad rep,” Bobbitt said.

When asked if it bothers him, he answered, “No. We’re used to it.”

But Taylor doesn’t like it.

“I’ll continue to talk to them about it, continue to counsel them. … You can’t cross that line,” Taylor said. “The officials have not won a game for us and have not cost a game for us. We are 17-9 because of our play.”

Taylor does know that there could come a game where it does cost UH.

On Thursday against Riverside, there were at least two plays where Fleming was clearly fouled but nothing was called. It’s hard not to imagine that the fact that he has been tagged with six technical fouls could play into that.

Taylor said he had no complaints about the officiating, and even went as far as apologizing to referee Glen Mayberry at halftime.

“Glen’s a great guy, the entire crew’s great,” Taylor said. “Rod said (he told Mayberry), ‘All I did was give you the ball,’” when he was called for a technical.

“I told him you just have to smile and move on, move on,” Taylor said. “(The players) gotta use their charm for something else than picking up ladies at Ala Moana mall.

“A smile and a thank you will go a long way.”

Going to the foul line eight fewer times than their opponent didn’t matter Thursday against the Highlanders. But it very well could in the coming weeks.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.