UH point guard Drew Buggs and center Dawson Carper talked after Thursday night's 75-54 victory over Cal Poly in the Stan Sheriff Center. Carper posted a season-high 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting, launched mostly on dunks and lay-ins off pirouettes. Buggs amassed 17 points and eight assists.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Hawaii center Dawson Carper went to dunk as Cal Poly Mustangs forward Hank Hollingsworth defended on Thursday.
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Fueled by reserve power, the Hawaii basketball team surged to Thursday’s 75-54 victory over Cal Poly in the Stan Sheriff Center.
A crowd of 2,914 saw the Rainbow Warriors receive 38 points from their bench in improving to 15-9 overall and 6-4 in the Big West. The ’Bows moved into a tie for third place with UC Santa Barbara. The Mustangs fell to 5-18 and 1-9.
On a Valentine’s Night when forward Jack Purchase tied the school record with the 180th 3-pointer of his three-season UH career, it was the backups who took control.
Dawson Carper, one of the ’Bows’ three 7-foot freshmen, posted a season-high 15 points on 7-for-8 shooting, launched mostly on dunks and lay-ins off pirouettes.
Sheriff Drammeh, a 6-foot-3 senior, came off the bench to help solve the Mustangs’ man-to-man schemes and match-up zones. Drammeh’s four assists — all in the first half — came when he drove the lane, soared, and then dished to Carper and starting center Zigmars Raimo.
In the second half, it was backup guard Leland Green’s turn. After the Mustangs closed to nine points, Green swished a 3 from the right corner and followed with a jumper from the left side to spark a 7-0 run that pushed the ’Bows’ advantage to 63-46 with 3:56 to play.
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“We’ve got some weapons,” UH coach Eran Ganot said. “There are some good players playing behind some good players. It can be any guy on any given night.”
UH point guard Drew Buggs, who amassed 17 points and eight assists, said the ’Bows’ depth is evident in every practice.
“It’s nothing new,” Buggs said. “It’s something we expect.”
In a pick-a-poison tactic, the Mustangs tried to pressure the ball-handler. That opened the way for a center to set a screen, drawing a defender, and then rolling to the low post.
“Great passing made it easier for me to get inside,” Carper said.
Cal Poly coach Joe Callero said: “That Carper kid getting 15, and I think probably 10 of those were off drop-off passes. We over-helped, and one or two of them he got good post-up moves.”
The ’Bows also countered the Mustangs’ intent of denying Purchase, who is a prolific outside shooter and accurate passer.
“Jack is such a weapon offensively,” Buggs said. “Teams don’t want to let him have any open shots. He opens up the floor for everybody else. They can’t leave him alone or else he’ll make a 3. Jack is always a key part of our offense.”
Purchase did not make his first shot — the record-tying 3 — until 4:28 remained. “I’m happy,” he said of matching Zane Johnson’s mark. “I’m proud of myself for doing it.”
But he also was pleased to serve as a decoy. “The boys played really well tonight,” Purchase said. “It was a heartfelt game.”
Ganot said: “I thought Jack really spread the floor. They were locking in on him. … You might not feel his presence in the box score, but he opens up everything.”
The night began with a microphone malfunction during the national anthem. After that, there were on-court glitches for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs converted only seven of 26 first-half shots, including two of nine from 3-point distance. Point guard Donovan Fields, who entered with a 16.0 scoring average, was frustrated into 1-for-6 shooting in the first half. Drew Buggs, Brocke Stepteau, Sheriff Drammeh and Leland Green took turns tracking Fields.
Fields was assessed his fourth foul with 14:58 to play, then sat for 7 minutes, 12 seconds. He scored 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting before fouling out with 2:34 remaining.
