Superman has Lex Luther.
Batman has The Joker.
And Hawaii’s basketball nemesis — UC Irvine — spoiled the home team’s “Super Hero Night” in the Stan Sheriff Center.
Guard Max Hazzard hit the go-ahead jumper with 9.2 seconds left in overtime, and the Anteaters weathered the Rainbow Warriors’ frenetic comeback attempt in a 75-74 victory.
The Anteaters, who rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half, hit four of the final five shots in overtime to improve to 16-5 overall and 4-1 in the Big West.
For the ’Bows, who fell to 11-7 and 2-2, it was another disappointing outcome against the Anteaters. Last season, the Anteaters ruined the ’Bows’ senior night, then eliminated UH in the Big West tournament.
“You have to give them credit,” UH forward Zigmars Raimo said. “They came with energy. They wanted the win.”
The ’Bows, who were in foul trouble from early in the second half, relied on unlikely shooters — Leland Green and Sheriff Drammeh — to move into position to upset the league’s preseason favorite. Green hit two 3s in the second half, and Drammeh sank a 3 to to put the ’Bows ahead, 74-73 with 15.2 seconds remaining in the extra period. It was Drammeh’s first field goal of the game after eight misses, including six from behind the 3-point stripe.
But then Hazzard got the ball on the right side, and off a catch-step-and-shoot, drained what proved to be the decisive basket.
“It wasn’t called for me specifically,” Hazzard said. “They put us in position to make a play, and we did that. I felt confident (on the shot). I thought all of them were going in tonight. It felt good. I tried to go to my best move and hope for the best.”
UH forward Jack Purchase got the ball at the top of the key, about 23 feet from the basket, and launched a shot that would not fall. Guard Drew Buggs’ tip also did not drop as the final horn sounded.
“It felt good,” Purchase said, “It looked good. It didn’t go in.”
The ’Bows had rehearsed several last-shot scenarios. “Nine seconds left,” UH coach Eran Ganot said. “We knew we didn’t have a timeout. We had to attack. We worked on that. Drew did a good job of getting into the paint. We got a look.”
The ’Bows built a 53-39 lead after Samuta Avea drained a 3 with 8:35 left in the second half. A turning point came with UH leading 56-46, with 4:45 to play. Purchase was called for a hook-and-hold on UCI’s Jonathan Galloway. It was a flagrant-1 foul, giving the Anteaters two free throws and possession. Galloway hit both free throws, and the Anteaters followed with a 3 to cut the deficit to 56-51 and spark a surge.
“They said I pulled him when we were hooked,” Purchase said. “I pulled him up instead of letting go. He was on top of me. I didn’t know what to do. That’s the way the game goes.”
Of the comeback, UCI coach Russell Turner said: “I really believe in the people on this team. A comeback like that is not possible unless you have belief in one another.”
It was Purchase, who finished with 18 points, who led the ’Bows to a 29-23 lead into the intermission.
The ’Bows trailed 22-20 when Purchase hit a 3 from the right wing while falling backward with 3:49 to play in the first half.
UCI guard Robert Cartwright tried to drive the baseline when he ran into Purchase. Cartwright was called for an offensive foul. Purchase then got the ball on the right wing and arced a 3 that swished for a 26-22 lead.
Later, Green stole a UCI dribble drive, then went coast to coast for a layup to extend the ’Bows’ lead to 29-22 with 1:27 to play.
The Anteaters entered with a reputation as relentless rebounders — they averaged 15.3 offensive boards per game — and second-chance opportunists. But in the first half, they amassed four offensive rebounds and scored two second-chance points.
Against a stream of defenders — the Anteaters rotated four post defenders — Purchase managed 14 first-half points on 5-for-6 shooting. He was four of five from behind the 3-point stripe.
