UH subs come to the rescue in beating Adams State

In the case of Monday night’s emergency, Hawaii broke the glass on its sealed bench.

Division II visitor Adams State presented a dire upset threat, but timely breakout performances by Samuta Avea and Brandon Thomas aided the Rainbow Warriors in a closer-than-expected win over the Grizzlies, 87-77, at the Stan Sheriff Center.

A crowd of 2,378 saw UH (4-1) push back Adams (2-4) when it clawed within three points in the final five minutes. The Grizzlies, who won HPU’s tournament over the weekend, showed fight all the way to the finish.

Senior Gibson Johnson matched his career high of 19 points, but it was the season bests of first-year Rainbow Warriors Avea and Thomas (13 points each) that swung the outcome away from a possible second straight loss.

“I thought they were huge for us,” said Johnson, who shot 11-for-13 at the line and added a rare breakaway dunk in the final minute. “I mean, you saw the lift they brought from off the bench. We probably don’t get a W, at least it’s not as comfortable as it was, if those guys don’t contribute. They were big-time for us, Samuta and Brandon both stepping up with big shots, O-boards, anything.”

UH coach Eran Ganot echoed Johnson’s sentiment and called his team “fortunate” to win. Thomas, a sophomore out of Riverside City College, and Avea, a freshman out of Kahuku, had seen playing time only sparingly through the first four games, but earned a chance through recent strong practices.

“I’m a big believer in, you play how you practice,” Ganot said. “Samuta will hear (criticism), and has, and Brandon will hear it. They’re now performing. … Those are two great attitudes, two really coachable kids, workers who want it.”

The 6-foot-6 Avea shot 6-for-8 and grabbed five rebounds in 17 minutes while playing mostly at the 4, while the shooting guard Thomas shot 5-for-6 (2-for-3 3-pointers) in 24 minutes.

“I come into every game just ready for my number to be called,” said Avea, whose contribution included a top-arc splashed 3 — the first of his career — to beat the shot clock for a 58-50 lead. “Tonight it happened to be called and I was able to bring some energy.

“It was fun. It was a good feeling. I’m excited we got the win and excited for this upcoming road trip.”

UH now prepares to head out for its lone nonconference road game, at Utah on Saturday.

Looking ahead was dangerous. The Grizzlies, who used their Division I size to shoot 52.6 percent, clawed within 70-67 on an 11-0 run.

Veteran UH point guard Brocke Stepteau made his first start of the season and scored 12 points, including a key 3-pointer to gain some separation and four clinching free throws late. Leland Green (13 points) added a clutch triple following Stepteau’s.

“We’ve got some experience from last year; we’ve been in some close games where it seems like the pressure’s on us,” Stepteau said. “(We) know where we need to get the ball, and we come together and usually make the right plays down the stretch. That’s something we hang our hat on.”

Adams power forward Mike Thomas outplayed UH’s forward of the same name, with 29 points on 13-for-16 shooting and eight rebounds. It was a UH opponent season scoring high.

Ganot held out his Thomas — who’d recently re-aggravated a wrist injury — after the opening minutes and a brief stint in the second half. He had two points in 10 minutes.

“The good thing is we don’t play until Saturday,” Ganot said. “He’s going to be a treatment machine right now … he’s definitely going to be better.”

Stepteau and Sheriff Drammeh made their first starts of the season, in place of struggling shooters Drew Buggs and Jack Purchase, the latter of whom continued to struggle with his shot, going 0-for-4 from long range, and 0-for-9 over the last two games.

The Grizzlies gripped UH tight for the first 30 minutes as there were 10 lead changes.

UH eked out an eight-point halftime lead thanks to Brandon Thomas, who capped his nine-point period by twisting around for a tough putback on a Johnson miss to beat the intermission buzzer.

The result officially counted for UH, while Adams State used the game as an exhibition.