The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team suffered its second consecutive defeat, losing 86-75 to Cal Poly at home. This loss marks only the second time this season that the Rainbow Warriors have lost back-to-back games and is their first home defeat since November.
With this result, Hawai’i now holds an 18-7 overall record and a 10-5 mark in Big West Conference play. The team is tied for second place with CSUN, trailing UC Irvine by one game in the standings.
Cal Poly improved to 12-16 overall and 8-8 in conference play. The Mustangs have now won three straight games, each against teams ranked in the top three of the league.
Hamad Mousa led Cal Poly with a game-high 24 points. For Hawai’i, Dre Bullock scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Isaac Johnson contributed 18 points, including a perfect performance from the free-throw line.
Cal Poly started strong, taking a quick 15-2 lead after making six of their first eight shots. Hawai’i responded with a run that cut the deficit to one point, but Cal Poly maintained control and ended the first half ahead 44-35. The Rainbow Warriors struggled offensively in the opening period, shooting just under 35 percent from the field.
In the second half, Hawai’i managed to tie the game at 52 following a personal scoring run by Bullock. However, Cal Poly answered with another surge to regain and extend their lead. Yacine Toumi came off the bench for UH to provide key points as they closed within two late in the contest, but Cal Poly again pulled away.
Hawai’i made only three of its twenty-three attempts from beyond the arc and committed seventeen turnovers. These mistakes led directly to twenty-two points for Cal Poly. Additionally, UH recorded just two assists on twenty-three made field goals.
The Rainbow Warriors will next face UC Santa Barbara on Saturday in a nationally televised matchup scheduled for 5:00 p.m., during which former guard AC Carter will have his jersey retired at halftime.
