They work hard. They celebrate hard.

A bench mob mentality has taken Hawaii basketball by storm, from the Rainbow Warriors’ early-season last-second win over Nevada through last week’s road contests in Big West play.

If you’ve watched a UH basketball game this season, you’ve probably seen — or have at least heard about — the pantomimed antics near the end of the bench by the Rainbows’ reserves.

The Superman. The grenade toss. The extra-point kick. The foot tapping and leg crossing (tap-taps) during free throws.

“Hawaii 5-O” takes a distinct pride in nailing these choreographed celebrations, usually just after a more heralded teammate nails a big 3-pointer.

There will undoubtedly be another “play” or two unveiled in Saturday’s game against UC Davis at the Stan Sheriff Center.

“It’s kind of taken off and all the boys on the bench love it,” said Jack Purchase, a redshirt player this season dubbed the “commissioner” of 5-O. “Everyone’s trying to be in on it.”

Consider: There is a big board in the UH locker room with scout work on the next opponent. There’s another board with the 5-O playbook for game day.

They have their own practices, complete with arranged seating, after the rest of the team leaves the court for gameday walkthrough. They have their own sign — arms crossed at the wrists, one hand open with five fingers splayed, the other hand balled into a fist. They have their own Twitter handle: @Hawaiii50_ (with three I’s).

They’re more than just a few guys who don’t play.

“We all know why we’re here,” said third-string point guard Niko Filipovich. “It’s just us finding other ways to be locked in. I think that’s why we care so much about celebrating for our teammates. Not to mention we all get along really well, from one to 15. Who are we to not cheer our teammates? Who are we to say, you know what, we’re going to pout or do some stuff like that. That’s not what we’re about, and that’s definitely not what 5-O is about.”

It might look like the antics are for show, and that’s at least part of it. But for players who rarely see the court, it’s a game within a game. The trigger for a big “play” is when UH hits a 3, and usually in the second half where the action drifts to the far end of the court, creating more space along the sideline and baseline.

“I think if we didn’t have that, we’d just be clapping and jumping after 3s,” said freshman Jakob Cornelissen, who’s appeared briefly in three games. “But it wouldn’t keep everyone as engaged, you’d get a little bored after a while. Having these celebrations, when someone shoots a 3, everyone’s like ‘Ohhhh let’s go!’, and then if it misses, everyone’s like ‘Ughhh.’ ”

Any conversation about 5-O invariably leads to comparisons with Monmouth, the previously unknown school that took the national college hoops scene by storm this season with its bench antics.

“I personally think we’re better,” said guard Dyrbe Enos, who was skeptical at first but bought in once he saw the “tap-taps” in action. “And we’ve heard some other people too, not to mention ESPN analysis, saying we’ve been pretty good. The only thing Monmouth’s got on us is the TV time, air time. Exposure.”

Five-O might have its haters, but count first-year coach Eran Ganot among its supporters.

“The good thing was I felt the bench was engaged,” Ganot said. “I didn’t know they’d take it to this level. But my only opinion of that is, it’s very positive. You have to always be careful to find a balance between being enthused about your teammates, and being respectful of the game. And in my opinion, they’ve found a great balance there.”

Granted, Ganot shook his head about the extra practices and gameday board.

The name “5-O” came about during early season scout team preparation, when the five-man practice unit of Filipovich, Purchase, Cornelissen, Enos and Zach Buscher would take the court and run through opponents’ sets. Brocke Stepteau and Sheriff Drammeh, at the fringe of the playing rotation, also got on board.

They started brainstorming moves. Purchase had some experience in such matters as a reserve at Auburn last season. He and two teammates, known as “The White Caboose,” carried out what became the groundwork for 5-O.

The breakthrough was Filipovich riding a prone Purchase like a surfboard in the ESPN2-televised game against Nevada. It’s only grown since, and starters like Roderick Bobbitt, Aaron Valdes and others have reciprocated with celebrations in blowouts when 5-O is inserted during mop-up time.

“I try to watch the games over and see what I can see from them,” starting big man Stefan Jankovic said. “Those are the guys that are younger … they don’t play the most minutes on the team. But they contribute, I would say, just as much as anyone who plays.”

The whole team comes up with ideas and pitches them to Purchase for final approval. During games, Purchase carries a run sheet in his pocket like a quarterback.

“Game time, I’m the one that’s most locked in, I think,” Purchase said in deadpan fashion.

Five-O took its act on the road in last week’s wins at UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton. Filipovich said the bench was warned by officials in both games, but the opposing crowds seemed to get a kick out of it, especially the “bench press.”

Purchase, when asked how long 5-O can last, looked confused; stopping the show was a foreign concept for the Australian.

“I don’t think there is an endgame,” Purchase said. “We keep going. Sky’s the limit.”