Hawaii, Long Beach State looking to rebound

There’s a reason it seems as if the Hawaii and Long Beach State basketball teams just played each other.

It was only eight days ago when the Rainbow Warriors beat the 49ers in the Stan Sheriff Center.

Both teams are rebounding from disappointment entering today’s rematch in LBSU’s Walter Pyramid. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. Hawaii time.

Two nights after the 74-57 loss in Honolulu, the 49ers scored 80 points in a two-point loss to UC Irvine. In each of their seven Big West games, the 49ers were ahead or tied with 10 minutes remaining. “And we’re 2-5,” LBSU coach Dan Monson said. “We have to be able to sustain things and play with a little more consistency down the stretch.”

The Rainbow Warriors are seeking to bounce back from Saturday’s 75-54 loss to UC Santa Barbara. In the second half, the Gauchos scored 45 points on 65.4-percent shooting. The ’Bows suffered a three-area defensive breakdown. They committed too many fouls, did not slow the point of attack, and could not stop Amadou Sow in the post.

“The last two games, for sure, were the worst we’ve been in terms of fouling,” said UH coach Eran Ganot, whose ’Bows committed 13 and 12 first-half fouls, respectively. “We had a flurry of guys in foul trouble we had to manage. Sometimes when it’s three or four guys (in foul trouble), it can get you out of rhythm a little bit. It had an impact on us.”

As for deterring paint points, Ganot said: “We have to do a better job at the point of attack. Our defense usually is there for us to close those gaps. And when we’re at the rim, can we be smart enough to contest without bailing them out (with fouls)? The combination of those things, none of them was there for us (against UCSB).”

Monson credited the ’Bows’ approach.

“Hawaii is the antithesis of us,” Monson said. “They thrive on being consistent. They are very fundamental in what they’re doing. They’re not trying to fool you. They beat you with making the right play every time. We’ve got to be more that way. We’re more high risk. We’re not getting a return on it.”

Deishuan Booker has been the 49ers’ offensive leader. In Big West games, Booker is averaging 25.9 points on 50.5-percent shooting. Temidayo Yussuf, who missed six games in January because of a leg injury, returned against UH last week to provide a physical presence in the post. But on Monday, wing Ron Freeman opted to leave the team.

The Pyramid has been a challenging venue for visiting teams.

“Part of it is we’ve had good teams,” Monson said. “This year, we’re not as good, and we’ve lost our last three home games. The arena is nice, and we’ve shown we can win in it if we play well. But we’re far from being able to mail it in because we’re at home. We’ve got to get ourselves playing better.”