UH hoops teams will play Hilo on weekend

It’ll be another intra-state rivalry weekend for the University of Hawaii basketball teams.

The UH men’s and women’s teams are scheduled to face their counterparts from Hawaii-Hilo in games on Saturday and Sunday at SimpliFi Arena, the schools announced on Monday.

The Rainbow Warriors (1-0) play host to the Vulcans in the men’s game at 7 p.m. Saturday. The women’s game between the Rainbow Wahine (0-1) and Vulcans is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday.

The games will count as nonconference games for UH and will be exhibitions for Division II UH-Hilo. The games will be played without fans.

“We need these games badly,” UH coach Eran Ganot said. “Our situation is obviously very unique and we’re just really excited to be able to compete again on Saturday. We have conference play around the corner and it’s really important for our guys.

“We’re appreciative of the opportunity. We’re happy we were able to put it together. I know a lot of work goes into putting this together normally, but especially in these times.”

The pandemic has complicated scheduling for the UH teams and the Warriors and Wahine opened their seasons with games against Hawaii Pacific University last weekend. UH is scheduled to open Big West play with two-game series against Cal Poly on Dec. 27 and 28 with the men playing at home and the women in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

The Hawaii men pulled away in the second half in an 83-50 win over HPU last Friday. The ‘Bows led 30-25 at the break then shot 67% from the field in a 53-25 second-half outburst. Forward James Jean-Marie, a transfer from San Diego, led UH with 21 points and 11 rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench in his UH debut. Returning center Mate Colina added 17 points and six rebounds.

“The goal remains the same as the HPU game; play hard, play as a team, get better, share the ball, which we didn’t do in the first half the other night,” Ganot said. “But I think it’s that much more important with the newcomers we have. We need these under normal conditions, we need it that much more under the current landscape.”

UH Hilo went 12-14 last season and Saturday’s game will mark the debut of Kaniela Aiona as the Vulcans’ head coach. The ‘Bows and Vulcans last met in 2018 with UH pulling out an 82-75 win.

“Most of all, I am excited for our players,” Aiona, a Honokaa graduate, said in a release from the school. “They have done everything we have asked of them during these tough times. I am glad that they are getting a chance to finally play a game. … Normally we would have played some scrimmages, exhibitions and nonconference games before taking up a challenge like Manoa. They are a talented and well coached team. This will be a great test for us as it is our first opportunity to play.”

The Rainbow Wahine dropped their opener to HPU in an 82-74 loss on Sunday. The Sharks put together an 11-2 run in the final two minutes to earn their first win over UH. Junior forward Amy Atwell led the Wahine with 21 points.

UH Hilo returns four starters off a team that went 11-16 last season under coach David Kaneshiro, now in his 11th year. UH won an exhibition with Hilo 62-26 in 2018 in their last meeting.