UH Vs. UCD: UH Loses 68-66; RIP Don Robbs (1937-2025)
3My story on UH Vs. UCD: https://mathew21688.wixsite.com/my-site/uh-ucd-1-23-25
Despite a career-high 21 points from Harry Rouhliadeff, the University of Hawaiʻi Men's Basketball team still came out the losers in a 68-66 decision to the UC Davis Aggies at the University Credit Union Center on Thursday. This marks five losses in a row at UC Davis, dating back to their last win in 2021.
Tanner Christensen (11), Kody Williams (10), and Ryan Rapp (10) were the only other UH players to crack double-digits. Christensen logged a team-high eight rebounds.
TY Johnson led the Aggies and all players with 23 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Pablo Tamba added 19 on 9-of-12 shooting, and newcomer Connor Sevilla added 11 while he went 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
Williams drew first blood via a triple to put UH on the board the quickest, but Davis was only getting warmed up.
Behind the leadership of Tamba and Johnson, UC Davis was able to enjoy as much as an 8-point lead in the first half. Sevilla also banked an occasional triple to keep Davis in front.
UH hit their stride as well, but they did not let UCD get away. Aaron Hunkin-Claytor would hit a long-range triple with 3:22 remaining to tie things at 21 all.
Unfortunately, Davis got some momentum off a Leo Debruhl layup at the buzzer, and UH found themselves behind, 25-23, at halftime. It was a decent first half for UH, as they committed six turnovers, but Davis committed just two.
UH came out of the locker rooms with an immediate 17-4 run with Rouhliadeff doing most of the scoring. Rouhliadeff and Williams hit back-to-back triples to put UH in front for the first time since very early in the first half.
UH would pull out their lead to as many as four, but they could not attain it. A Christensen dunk with 8:52 remaining was UH's last field goal for over five minutes. Davis went on a 13-4 run while UH could not buy a bucket until Marcus Greene sank a triple with 2:22 remaining to tie the score at 63.
UH's final few points came at the free throw line. With eight seconds remaining, Williams was the victim of a costly lost ball turnover, which turned into a Rapp foul and two shots for UCD's Johnson.
After Johnson went 1-of-2 at the free throw line, UH had one last chance at overtime or the win; they chose to go for overtime. Both Greene and Christensen would miss two final layups which ultimately sent UH home the losers.
UH drops to 12-7 overall and 4-4 in Big West play, but they have one last chance to get a road win this week. They will take on the first place UC Irvine Anteaters at the Bren Events Center on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. HST. You can listen to that game on ESPN Honolulu.