Box Score
Post Game Quotes
Photo Gallery

HONOLULU – Hiram Thompson buried a pair of free throws with 2.1 seconds left to lift the University of Hawai`i men's basketball team to a 68-67 win over San Jose State Sunday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH improved to 9-9 overall and 2-3 in the Western Athletic Conference.

 

Coming off its worst loss in 31 years in the WAC, the Rainbow Warriors came up in a huge way, snatching the game from the Spartans (9-8, 2-3 WAC) and winning for the third time in its last four home games.

 

Brandon Adams made his fourth start of the season and came up with a career game, tallying 19 points and nine rebounds. Jeremy Lay also went for 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Thompson finished with 14 points and five assists, while Roderick Flemings put together a solid all-around game with 10 points, seven rebounds and a career-high eight assists. 

 

Thompson hit the game-winning free throws after it looked like UH had thrown the game away. Clinging to a one-point lead, UH turned the ball over on two straight possessions in the final 30 seconds. The first turnover led to a Chris Oakes fast-break dunk that put the Spartans up, 68-67, with 21 seconds left. UH turned the ball over again on its next possession and the Spartans looked to extend its lead on the free throw line after a UH foul with eight seconds left.

 

But Adrian Oliver, an 89 percent free throw shooter for the Spartans, missed the front-end of the one-and-one and Thompson took the ball coast-to-coast before being fouled hard on a driving layup to the basket. Thompson hit the ensuing free throws and Oliver's half-court shot at the buzzer bounced off the backboard. 

 

It was a close game throughout with five ties and 10 lead changes, while UH led 42-39 at the break. UH shot just 28 percent after the break but tied a season-high with nine 3-pointers and nailed 11-of-13 free throws. Meanwhile, San Jose entered the game as one of the top 3-point shooting team but made just 4 of 20 attempts (20 percent).

 

UH continues its three-game homestand with a date against New Mexico State on Thursday, Jan. 21. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.