One day after Division II Hawai‘i Pacific stunned Boise State on the road, the University of Hawai‘i men’s basketball team nearly pulled off an upset of its own.
The Rainbow Warriors opened their season Tuesday night against Oregon, pushing the Big Ten’s Ducks to the final horn before falling 60-59 at Matthew Knight Arena.
Hawai‘i forced 21 turnovers and led 59-58 in the closing seconds before Oregon grabbed four offensive rebounds in the final 40 seconds. Takai Simpkons hit the game-winning shot with four seconds left, and the ‘Bows’ last-second attempt rimmed out.
Seven-footer Isaac Johnson paced Hawai‘i with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three steals before fouling out late. The game marked a promising debut for a new-look Rainbow Warriors team under head coach Eran Ganot, showing toughness and defensive intensity against a Big Ten contender.
Hawai‘i will return home for its season opener at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday against East Texas A&M.