Persistence was Hawaii’s super power vs. UC Davis

For “Superhero Night” at the Stan Sheriff Center, the University of Hawaii men’s basketball team donned green capes for their pregame introductions.

But, in the end, it was more pure grit than mythical powers, more sheer persistence than attire that propelled the Rainbow Warriors soaring into sole possession of first place in the Big West Conference on Saturday night.

The 77-72 victory over defending champion UC Davis came with team sparkplug Brocke Stepteau on the bench in street clothes following Wednesday surgery for a fractured right middle (shooting) finger, point guard Drew Buggs grimacing through the last 10 minutes of a 35-minute performance with painful cramps and a makeshift lineup on the court due to fouls that eventually claimed three starters.

Yet, through the mounting adversity, it was the tallest these ’Bows have stood this season en route to a 13-5 overall record and 4-1 mark in conference.

Coupled with Long Beach State’s victory over Cal State Fullerton earlier in the evening, the ’Bows ascended to the top of the nine-member conference, the only remaining one-loss team.

It was their fourth consecutive victory, the longest winning streak of the season to date, and set up the possibility of a four-game home sweep when they return to the court Saturday against Fullerton.

And the way they did it resounded with the assembled 4,868, who showered them with an ovation.

Buggs, a redshirt freshman, was, in many ways, the glue that held them together on a night when they needed the steady hand.

Buggs contributed nine points, but the most important numbers on his bottom line were seven assists, one fewer than the entire Aggies team, and just one turnover while coming up with three steals, contributing to the season-high 23 turnovers committed by the Aggies.

Buggs suffered cramps in both legs, a situation that became so debilitating that team trainer Jayson Goo worked on stretching him out at the bench on every break.

But when it was time to return to the court, there was Buggs, sometimes biting his lip, bringing up the ball.

On this night the cast of “heroes” was wide ranging as well as collective.

Jack Purchase, who started the game awkwardly with an air ball and an offensive foul, fueled UH’s ascension with a team-high 21 points, making good on 6-for-9 field-goal shooting (4-for-7 from 3-point range) and supplying seven rebounds.

Backup guard Leland Green, who had lost his starting job five games earlier and gone six games without scoring in double figures, came up with 11 points.

Collectively the ’Bows held UC Davis to 15.8 percent shooting (3-for-19) from 3-point range with a constricting 2-3 zone. They particularly hamstrung Siler Schneider, who had 29 points in his last outing but made good on just one of eight from the 3-point arc and six of 18 overall for 16 points.

Chima Moneke, the preseason conference player of the year averaging 19 points, managed 14, but his potential was largely muted by a suffocating high-low, double-teaming defense that forced him into a season-high nine turnovers.

In the end, when Buggs limped off the court, the long-standing grimace that had carried him and the ’Bows through, was replaced by a smile of satisfaction.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.