Just as University of Hawaii forward Jack Purchase began to set up for a 3-point shot attempt with 7 minutes, 20 seconds remaining Friday night, a portion of the Stan Sheriff Center was already getting into giddy celebration mode.

Never mind that Purchase had yet to let fly the shot from beyond the arc, the 3,119 on hand were clearly feeling it.

Well, maybe, they were also tasting it in anticipation of UH’s 68th point, closing in on the pair of free tacos that Jack in the Box rewards ticket holders with on nights the Rainbow Warriors score 72 or more points.

Call it a Purchase order by the guy who accomplished a season-high 22 points on six of nine shooting from 3-point land, also a season high in the ’Bows’ 84-59 nonconference victory over Howard University.

The victory was notable not so much that it came over a Bison team that is now 3-13, but because in this, the ’Bows’ 13th game in a 9-4 start, it was the first time since the season opener that Purchase has looked and shot like, well, a reasonable facsimile of the Jack Purchase of old. Or, at least the 2016 version that earned honorable mention All-Big West Conference honors.

The 6-foot, 9-inch Auburn transfer from Australia who set a UH record for 3-point field goals by a sophomore last season when he netted 72 has struggled mightily this season. Until Friday night he’d managed but 14 on 59 attempts, a 23.7 shooting percentage that was a far cry from the 39-percent shooting last season.

Lately you’d begun to suspect that he hadn’t lost the marksman-like touch as much as the accompanying confidence. Lost along with it was a starting role taken away after the fourth game.

Eight times this season Purchase had made one — or less — 3-pointers in a game, including going 3-for-26 in one juncture and 0-for-3 in Monday’s Diamond Head Classic finale.

So, when he came out firing on target, making good on four of eight in the first half Friday, things were looking up. Not only for the night but heading into the opening of Big West Conference play Jan. 4 at Long Beach State.

For the ’Bows, a team that ranked 328th (out of 351 NCAA Division I members) in 3-point production coming into the game and 343rd in 3-point percentage (28.2 percent), a thriving Purchase is a must if they are to make a run at a Big West title.

Suddenly, Friday, the player known for his no-look passes was making long-range shots look just as smooth.

Taking their cue from Purchase’s firepower, the ’Bows made a season-high 13 3-pointers on 23 attempts in what was, for a while, a long distance shooting contest between the two teams.

To put this in perspective, UH shot 57 percent from beyond the arc compared to 56 percent (15 of 27) from the much closer free-throw line.

Purchase not only helped UH put distance between itself and the Bison, but every time Howard tried to nibble its way back in the second half he seemed to hit a 3-pointer that supplied additional separation.

For one night Jack was back for the Rainbow Warriors.

Now, and not a moment too soon, we wait to see if the return of his shooting touch and a confident smile that comes with it is here to stay.