FULLERTON, CALIF. >> A big cheer emanated from the Titan Gym weight room on the campus of Cal State Fullerton on Monday.

A few hours earlier, the Big West Conference basketball postseason awards were announced. For Hawaii, Noah Allen was named to the all-conference first team, while Gibson Johnson and Jack Purchase were honorable mentions. Were the Rainbow Warriors celebrating the news?

Yes and no. They had just learned from their coaches they’d be attending the Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Clippers game on a team outing at Staples Center that night.

For a fifth-place team that exceeded preseason expectations by three spots — and didn’t even know it’d still be on the mainland right now when it departed from Honolulu last Tuesday — some recognition was still welcome.

“It starts with the effort and sacrifice they’ve made to get better,” UH coach Eran Ganot said. “Their development has been really impressive in one-year jumps.”

Allen, a graduate transfer from UCLA, gradually embraced the spotlight in Manoa after three years spent toiling on the Bruins’ bench. The 6-foot-7 senior wing led BWC players in scoring in conference games at 18.5 and was UH’s top rebounder at 5.9. He turned to his well-rounded game to join the short list of UH players to post four 30-point games in a season.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity Hawaii’s given me,” Allen said next to the team bus. Then, Allen, often a man of few words, turned downright loquacious (by his standards) on the subject of his frontcourt mates Purchase and Johnson being honored as well.

“Definitely special for me. I’m happy to see their success,” Allen said. “They’ve helped us tremendously this year, and so without them, without their contributions we wouldn’t be here.”

The 25-year-old Johnson, a national champion at Salt Lake Community College last year, proved to be a natural fit as the team’s new “in” man in its offense. The junior has put up 11.2 points on better than 50 percent shooting from the field.

Johnson stumped for Allen for player of the year on social media in recent weeks. He still thought Allen had a chance even after UH lost its last two road games to drop to 8-8 in conference, but the honor went to guard Luke Nelson of regular-season champ UC Irvine.

“Not only a chance, I thought (Allen) was deserving,” Johnson said. “I’m obviously biased to think Noah deserves it. But Luke Nelson also deserves it. He’s a great player on the best team in the conference.”

Purchase, UH’s third-leading scorer (9.9) and top 3-point shooter, is trying to work his way back from a sprained right ankle he suffered in the regular-season-ending loss at LBSU on Saturday. The 6-foot-8 Australian came off a redshirt transfer season from Auburn and has been essential to the UH offense with his 72 made 3s on nearly 40 percent long-range shooting, to go with his usually pinpoint passing game from the top of the arc.

“Jack is the premier shooter and passer (in the conference) at his position,” Ganot said. “I’m not the only one who says that.”

Ganot also thought Leland Green merited consideration for Big West freshman of the year (which went to Fullerton’s Jackson Rowe) and he liked Sheriff Drammeh for either defensive player of the year (Irvine forward Jonathan Galloway) or best hustle player (UC Davis point guard Darius Graham). Davis’ first-team forward Chima Moneke beat out Allen for newcomer of the year.

Anteaters coach Russell Turner was named Big West coach of the year.

In going to the NBA game, the ’Bows coaches figured some entertainment was in order even as the team bears down on a rematch with Long Beach State in the Big West tournament quarterfinals at the Honda Center on Thursday.

“Conference play’s a battle, and the season’s a grind,” Ganot said. “You’ve got to be smart about getting better but also recharging. Hopefully we’re as healthy as we can be on Thursday. There’s still some question marks there.”

Purchase got in some light shooting Monday.

“I’ve been working with Jay (athletic trainer Goo) around the clock, the whole time working with this (foot) on that ARP (electrical stimulation) machine,” Purchase said. “Moving better on it today, and it’s getting better every day. Hopefully it’ll be good by Thursday.”

Reserve guard Larry Lewis Jr. missed Saturday’s regular-season-ending loss at LBSU because of a death in the family. He wasn’t back with the team on Monday and it’s unclear if the Milwaukee native will return by tourney time.

“To be determined,” Ganot said. “He’s dealing with a tough situation and we are here to support him.”