UH Vs. Hawaiʻi Pacific (11/24/25)

UH's Yacine Toumi #10 pulls off a slam dunk against HPU!

After losing for the first time at home last Thursday to Arizona State, the University of Hawaiʻi Men's Basketball team got back in the win column over the Hawaiʻi Pacific University Sharks, 88-76, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on Monday. Isaac Johnson led a whopping seven double-digit scoring 'Bows with 16 points, four rebounds, and was a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line. Johnson tied a school record 34 consecutive made free throws by Brocke Stepteau in the 2018-19 season. Harry Rouhliadeff returned after missing two games and chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds. Gytis Nemeikša, Hunter Erickson, and Yacine Toumi each chipped in 12. Aaron Hunkin-Claytor and Dre Bullock chipped in 11 each, with Hunkin-Claytor adding five assists and Bullock adding eight rebounds of his own. Quinton McCullough led the Sharks with 17 points and six rebounds. Quentin Meza added 16 points and five rebounds himself while Joshua West added 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Josh Niusulu added 12 himself and was 3-of-5 from 3-point range. UH came out of the gates firing and scored the first 12 points of the game while HPU did not score until the 14:20 mark. HPU made some pushes, but UH kept a good distance for much of the first half. They were able to cut the gap down to five with some mini runs, but they did not take the lead.UH's Nemeikša was able to make some key shots in the post, and Erickson sank a triple with 4:14 remaining to keep UH up by a handful.

UH was still short-handed, as Isaiah Kerr sat out for a second straight game due to an ankle injury, and Jalen Myers was absent for unknown reasons.

Despite those two out, UH still took a 38-33 lead over HPU at halftime.

HPU began the second half on a 7-2 run, but Maj Dusanic was issued a technical foul after a slam dunk. Their run was not done, as Niusulu sank a triple with 17:29 remaining and gave HPU its first lead, 42-41.

UH did not back down and retook the lead on a Nemeikša layup on the next possession. UH would lead the rest of the way, but HPU did not make it easy for them.

After HPU's Meza tied the game at 47 on a layup with 14:19 remaining, UH spurted back ahead with two made field goals from Johnson and Rouhliadeff; however, after a West triple, HPU head coach Jesse Nakanishi was issued a technical foul.

Johnson made both free throws, which started a 13-0 UH run to create some distance. UH did not let its gap drop below eight the rest of the way.

A Hunkin-Claytor technical foul with 4:38 remaining was UH's only hiccup down the stretch.UH improved to 5-2 in the 2025-26 season. They will take on the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. Tipoff at the Stan Sheriff Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. HST, and you can listen to the game on ESPN Honolulu or watch the game on Spectrum Sports.