ANAHEIM, CALIF. » "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played pregame in the Honda Center for Hawaii’s semifinal matchup with UC Davis in the Big West tournament semifinals. "Hawaii Pono‘i" was not.

So the UH band took matters into its own hands and belted out the Hawaii state song a cappella. The roughly 400 Hawaii fans in attendance got out of their seats again and stood at attention, while curious Davis fans looked on.

It was a rousing moment, and served as a harbinger of events to come.

Hawaii was heard.

The fifth-seeded Rainbow Warriors never trailed in dispatching top-seeded UC Davis 65-58 on Friday. Third-seeded UC Irvine, which swept Hawaii home-and-home during the regular season, is all that remains between UH and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002. UCI defeated No. 2 UC Santa Barbara 72-63 in overtime in the nightcap.

"We have a chance to become the next VCU, and put a stamp on this season tomorrow," UH coach Benjy Taylor said. "Gotta put a stamp on it."

No matter who wins the title game, there will be a first-time Big West tourney champion; the Anteaters (20-12), longtime members of the league, are 0-for-4 in the title game.

UH (22-12) is a three-year member in men’s basketball and until Thursday, when the Rainbows bested Long Beach State, had not won a Big West tournament game.

Things have sure changed in two days. UH is in its first conference title game in 13 years and riding an energetic, emotional tide manifested in its fervent play.

"We know they’re outstanding defensively. … We’re going to have to do a great job taking care of the ball," Irvine coach Russell Turner said. "We just had enough to win both of the regular-season games, but those games don’t matter a whole lot right now."

UH made the late plays to drive a stake into top-seeded Davis (25-6), most notably an Aaron Valdes highlight-reel block of Big West Player of the Year Corey Hawkins late in the game and a clutch team performance (9-for-10 at the foul line) to close things out.

But the ‘Bows are in for a whole different challenge Saturday with 7-foot-6 center Mamadou Ndiaye, the tallest player in college basketball. Ndiaye missed both meetings against UH with a foot injury.

Regardless of what happens in the title game, UH has its most victories since the 2001-02 team won a program-record 27.

UH players described a collective "Why not us?" mentality in the postgame locker room in seeking out one more.

Why not, indeed. UH turned plenty of heads all season with its victories through the changeover from Gib Arnold to Taylor and the significant off-court distraction of unresolved fallout from an NCAA investigation.

The Rainbows just keep winning with their swarming, relentless defense. They forced 16 turnovers against Davis, which notched just six assists.

Davis, the first Big West team to go from last place one season to the regular-season championship the next, rallied from an 11-point second-half hole behind big shots from Hawkins (game-high 22 points).

"We just stayed poised," point guard Roderick Bobbitt said. "We took one step at a time. We just fought. We went with a small lineup, switched everything (on screens). We got caught on a couple of plays but kept fighting and stuck with it."

Bobbitt scored 14 points with six assists and two steals, guard Isaac Fleming had 13 points and four assists, and Valdes scored 12 in the victory.

Fleming had the go-ahead points on free throws with 1:40 left. With UH leading 58-56 in the final minute, Hawkins drove into the lane and unleashed a floater in an attempt to tie things up.

Valdes, who possesses a 40-plus-inch vertical leap, was waiting.

"I didn’t know if he was going to pass or shoot," Valdes said. "I saw him going up for his shot, so I just tried to jump as high as I could and block it. Luckily I was able to get a piece."

All Davis coach Jim Les could do was tip his cap.

"When Corey gets in the paint and shoots his floater … that’s a money shot and I’ll live and die with that one," Les said. "Hawaii made a heck of a play and caught the ball. When (Valdes) blocked it, it was well on its way to the basket, not to say it was goaltending. It was an unbelievably athletic play."

Valdes made two free throws to go up four. After a timeout, Davis guard Darius Graham drove at the basket … into a nest of defenders. Negus Webster-Chan came up with a steal and the UH faithful — including the band — cheered as the Rainbows closed it out at the line.

UC Irvine 72, UC Santa Barbara 63, OT

ANAHEIM, Calif. » Will Davis II had 18 points and 15 rebounds and Mamadou Ndiaye also scored 18 points, leading the Anteaters (20-12) over the Gauchos (19-12).

Alan Williams had 24 points and 15 rebounds for UC Santa Barbara (19-12). John Green had 14 points and six rebounds before fouling out in the final minutes of regulation. The loss ended a six-game winning streak by the Gauchos.

Santa Barbara had a chance to pull it out at the end of regulation, but Zalmico Harmon missed a 3-pointer and Williams missed a jumper in the final 16 seconds with the score tied at 59.

Irvine scored the first seven points in overtime, with Davis and Ndiaye converting layups and Nelson draining a 3-pointer with 2:38 to play.

Halftime — Hawaii 26, UC Davis 23 

3-point goals — Hawaii 6-20 (Webster-Chan 2-4, Jankovic 1-2, Valdes 1-3, Fleming 1-4, Nevels 1-4, Smith 0-1, Bobbitt 0-2). UC Davis 7-17 (Hawkins 3-5, Johnson 1-1, Graham 1-3, Ritchart 1-3, Les 1-4, Lemar 0-1). Steals — Hawaii 6 (Bobbitt  2, Fleming, Jankovic, Valdes, Webster-Chan). UC Davis 6 (Hawkins 2, Johnson 2, Ritchardt 2). Turnovers — Hawaii 13 (Jankovic 5, Bobbitt  2, Fleming 2, Webster-Chan 2, Jovanovic, Valdes). UC Davis 16 (Adenrele 4, Hawkins 4, Graham 2, Lemar 2, Ritchart 2, Fox, Les). Assists — Hawaii 15 (Bobbitt 6, Fleming 4, Valdes 2, Jovanovic, Nevels, Smith). UC Davis 7 (Hawkins 3, Graham 2, Fox, Monson). Blocked shots — Hawaii 4 (Jankovic, Jovanovic, Thomas, Valdes). UC Davis 2 (Johnson 2). Technical fouls — Hawaii none. UC Davis. Officials — Michael Greenstein, Daryl Gelinas, Kurt Walker. A — NA.