Associated Press
IRVINE, Calif. — Gibson Johnson and Sheriff Drammeh scored 13 apiece and Michael Thomas hit four free throws in the final 41 seconds to help Hawaii cool off UC Irvine 62-61 on Thursday night, ending the Anteaters’ five-game win streak by snapping a five-game slide of their own.
Johnson sank 6 of 12 shots from the floor and grabbed six rebounds for the Rainbow Warriors (14-10, 5-6 Big West Conference) on a cold-shooting night for both teams. Thomas added 10 points and seven boards. Hawaii made just 19 of 54 shots (35 percent), including 4 of 17 from 3-point range (23.5 percent), but sank 20 of its 24 free throws.
Tommy Rutherford paced UC Irvine (13-15, 8-4) with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Evan Leonard added 11 points and Eyassu Worku scored 10.
Thomas hit 1 of 2 free throws with 3:29 remaining in the game to pull the Rainbow Warriors even at 56 and Drammeh followed with two free throws for the lead. Rutherford sank 1 of 2 foul shots to pull UC Irvine within a point, but Thomas hit four straight free throws to keep Hawaii ahead. Worku missed a 3-pointer for the Anteaters at the buzzer.
