Rainbow Warriors suffer road loss at Fullerton

FULLERTON, Calif. >> Amid the swirl of constant coaching changes, revolving-door rosters and NCAA sanctions, Hawaii could rely on one certainty in Big West Conference men’s basketball: routinely overwhelming Cal State Fullerton.

But Thursday night in their conference opener, the Rainbow Warriors watched that certainty disintegrate.

The Titans recovered from an early 10-point deficit, then had to survive a furious late rally before emerging with a 67-64 victory at Titan Gym.

Not since 2008 — and not since joining the Big West — had UH (6-8, 0-1) lost to Fullerton (7-7, 1-0). Never had the ’Bows lost as the Titans’ visitors. Until Thursday night, UH won 10 consecutive meetings, though four had to be vacated because of NCAA sanctions.

“I love the way we came out of the game and I love the way we finished,” UH coach Eran Ganot said. “But at key times, we lost our composure. We haven’t found the consistent 40-minute effort or the consistent focus.”

Nevertheless, one of Ganot’s youngest players not only made an impact. He had a chance to force overtime.

Freshman Leland Green scored a season-high 12 points to lead UH’s offense, added six rebounds and fired a one-handed shot from 3-point range that sailed wide of the backboard as time expired.

Green, who graduated from Redondo Union High School near Los Angeles, played in front of about 10 friends and family members for the first time since leaving for UH.

“I’m just happy they were able to see it,” Green said of his best offensive performance this season. “But that’s what I try to do every game. I just try to play as hard as I can every time I step on the floor because I never know if it’s my last.”

That attitude impresses Ganot.

“He’s got a great approach and a great mentality,” he said. “There is no lack of confidence. There is no lack of professionalism.”

Ganot believes that Green’s approach enabled the freshman to overcome early shooting problems.

“He shot so well in the practices in the fall and then he struggled early,” Ganot said. “But he went back to work. When guys struggle and have the right approach, I always think it’s a matter of time for those guys. He’s a great testament to that.”

Green played a significant role in the final 2:41, as UH narrowed a 65-53 deficit. Sheriff Drammeh began the rally with a lay-in, then Jack Purchase followed with a 3-point shot that drew the ’Bows within 65-58 with 2:05 to play.

After Fullerton’s Lionheart Leslie missed two free throws with 1:37 remaining, Green grabbed the long rebound of Drammeh’s missed 3-point attempt and drove the lane after Jackson Rowe fouled him for a lay-in that reduced the margin to 65-60 with 1:17 to go.

But Green missed the ensuing free throw. The Titans’ Austen Awosika responded eight seconds later with two foul shots to give the hosts a 67-60 advantage.

UH used Gibson Johnson’s lay-in and Brocke Stepteau’s inside jumper to cut the deficit to three points, then had a chance to tie the score after Green secured the rebound of Tre’ Coggins’ missed shot with 13 seconds to play.

But with the Titans’ defense extended beyond the 3-point arc, Green launched a desperate shot that flew to the backboard’s left.

“We were all in a scramble, so I knew I only had a little bit of time,” Green said. “So I just tried to get one up.”

Before that scramble, UH took a 15-5 lead in the first 5:26 behind Drammeh’s five points and Jackson’s four points.

But Fullerton embarked on a 16-4 blitz to move ahead, 21-19, with 7:45 before halftime. The ’Bows scored only two points on free throws in a span of 4:18.

“Things continue to rear their ugly head: key turnovers in key spots and our inability to finish at the rim,” Ganot said. “We were not getting to the free-throw line because we were too 3-point-happy.”

The Titans then began the second half with an 8-2 surge to build a 38-30 advantage after 2:48, and led by as many as 13 points with 9:55 to play.

Johnson and Stepteau finished with 11 points and eight rebounds apiece, with Stepteau adding five assists. Drammeh contributed 10 points, but the ’Bows missed 17 of 21 attempts beyond the arc and shot just 34.4 percent overall, 25.7 percent in the first half. Leslie led all scorers with 14 points.