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In a game that was delayed almost an hour at halftime due to a broken basket part at Cal State Fullerton, the Hawaii basketball team held firm for a 68-60 win today at Titan Gym.
Gibson Johnson and Drew Buggs scored 15 points apiece and had crucial late 3-pointers as UH (17-12, 8-8 Big West) closed the regular season by beating the only team in the conference it hadn’t defeated heading into next week’s Big West tournament in Anaheim.
The ’Bows remained in sixth place and play 3 seed UC Irvine (16-16, 11-5) on Thursday at Anaheim’s Honda Center.
Kyle Allman, who scored 40 points on 16-for-19 shooting in the Titans’ 69-66 win in Honolulu on Jan. 27, was held to 18 points in the rematch on 5-for-14 shooting.
UH sank six straight shots late in the first half, including a Mike Thomas tomahawk stuff, for a five-point lead. The visitors carried a 34-29 lead into the break, holding Allman to 10 points on 3-for-8 shooting to that point.
The start of the second half was delayed when it was discovered a backboard piece had broken on the stanchion UH shot on in the first half. It was unclear if the part broke on Thomas’ emphatic dunk or was already busted before the game.
After a 50-plus-minute delay in which practice baskets were lowered from the ceiling, CSUF’s Arkim Robertson scored three straight buckets and Allman scored in transition to get the Titans within 41-39.
Leland Green (10 points) hit a long 2 and Jack Purchase (10) hit a transition 3 as UH pushed up to its largest lead of seven, but CSUF (17-11, 10-6) answered with an 8-0 run.
Purchase ended a nine-minute field-goal drought with a layup for a 50-49 UH lead, but Thomas picked up his fourth foul the next trip down battling for a rebound with six minutes remaining.
Green exited with 5:15 left after hurting his right arm. Brocke Stepteau hit a tough bank shot to tie it at 52 and Buggs put UH ahead at the line, 54-52 with four minutes to go.
Buggs hit a corner triple for a four-point lead with 2:45 left and Johnson followed with one from the top of the arc.
Davon Clare converted a three-point play with 1:09 left to get the Titans within 63-60. Fullerton backed off taking fouls and UH got a Buggs score inside from Johnson to beat the shot clock. Purchase pushed it back to seven at the line.
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