HONOLULU (Interstat) — In a grinding, physical contest defined by defense and second chances, the Hawaii Warriors outlasted the UC San Diego Tritons 72-67 in a pivotal Big West Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at a raucous Stan Sheriff Center.

A crowd of 6,171 watched as the Warriors, leveraging a decisive advantage on the offensive glass and a crucial late-game surge, avenged a loss to the Tritons from just over a month prior. The victory improved Hawaii’s record to 17-5 overall, while UC San Diego fell to 16-9.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final five minutes, with the outcome hanging in the balance. Trailing 59-58, Hawaii unleashed a game-defining 8-0 run that shifted the momentum permanently in its favor. The sequence was ignited by a Harry Rouhliadeff 3-pointer, assisted by Hunter Erickson, giving the Warriors a 61-59 lead they would not relinquish. Isaac Finlinson followed with a tough layup, and after a UC San Diego miss, Isaac Johnson drew a foul and hit one of two free throws to extend the lead to 64-59.

UC San Diego, which had fought back from an early 11-point deficit to lead briefly in the second half, saw its offense stagnate during this pivotal stretch. The Tritons managed just one field goal over a span of nearly four minutes as Hawaii’s defense tightened.

The Warriors’ interior presence, led by the 7-foot Johnson, proved to be the ultimate difference. Hawaii dominated the rebounding battle, particularly on the offensive end where they secured 10 rebounds leading to 15 second-chance points. UC San Diego, by contrast, managed only two offensive rebounds all night. Hawaii also blocked six shots, with Gytis Nemeiksa recording three of them in a disruptive 18-minute stint.

Johnson, the sophomore from American Fork, Utah, was a force for Hawaii, finishing with a game-high 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, adding a block and a steal. Finlinson provided crucial support with 15 points, and Nemeiksa added 11 points and three blocks. Erickson, the floor general, orchestrated the offense with a game-high six assists to go with nine points.

UC San Diego was led by Tom Beattie’s 14 points, while Hudson Mayes contributed 12 points and Bol Dengdit added 11. The Tritons’ defense was active, forcing 14 Hawaii turnovers and registering nine steals, but they could not overcome their own offensive inefficiency. UC San Diego shot just 43.1% from the field and a frigid 28% from 3-point range. A critical shortcoming came at the free-throw line, where the Tritons converted only 10 of 18 attempts.

The game began at a frantic pace, with Hawaii racing out to an 11-0 lead behind Johnson’s early scoring. UC San Diego weathered the storm with a 13-4 run of its own, sparked by defense and transition play, to close the gap. The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring six ties and five lead changes, with Hawaii taking a narrow 34-32 advantage into the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern of tight, defensive-minded play. UC San Diego briefly took a 42-40 lead on an Alex Chaikin layup with 13:34 remaining, but Hawaii responded immediately. The game remained a one-possession affair until the Warriors’ decisive late run.

Statistically, the game was a study in contrasting strengths. Hawaii’s offensive rating of 96.1 on 75 possessions edged out UC San Diego’s 91.1 on 74 possessions, reflecting the slightly more effective, if not prettier, offensive execution. The Warriors assisted on only six of their 26 made field goals, underscoring a game often decided by individual efforts in the paint and on the boards.

With the win, Hawaii solidifies its position near the top of the Big West standings, while UC San Diego looks to regroup after a hard-fought road loss in a game that was projected to be a toss-up. Both teams continue conference play next Thursday.