HONOLULU (Interstat) — On a balmy Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center, the Hawaii Warriors showcased the depth and balance that has defined their season, methodically pulling away from the UC Riverside Highlanders for a 93-74 victory in a Big West Conference men’s basketball game.

From the opening tip, the Warriors established a pace and physicality that the visiting Highlanders struggled to match consistently. While UC Riverside’s Marqui Worthy opened the scoring with a driving layup just ten seconds in, Hawaii responded with an immediate and sustained offensive assault. A key sequence early in the first half set the tone. After a BJ Kolly block led to a transition opportunity, Hawaii’s Harry Rouhliadeff was fouled and converted both free throws. On the ensuing possession, Isaac Johnson drew another foul and hit two more from the line, sparking a 10-2 run that gave Hawaii an early 14-8 lead it would never relinquish.

The most critical stretch of the contest came midway through the first half, effectively deciding the game before halftime. Leading 24-20, the Warriors unleashed a devastating 12-2 surge over a three-minute span. The run was fueled by defensive pressure and efficient scoring from multiple sources. Dre Bullock converted free throws, Hunter Erickson scored on a driving layup, and Gytis Nemeiksa capped the burst with an assist to Erickson for another layup, pushing the advantage to 36-22. UC Riverside called a full timeout to stem the tide, but the Warriors’ defense, which recorded three steals and a block during the run, had already imposed its will.

Hawaii entered halftime with a commanding 46-39 lead, a margin that belied the control they exerted. The Warriors shot efficiently from the floor and capitalized on Highlander miscues, building their lead despite a 17-point first-half effort from UC Riverside’s Andrew Henderson.

Any hopes of a Highlander comeback were extinguished early in the second half. Hawaii opened the period with a 9-3 spurt, highlighted by a Rouhliadeff three-pointer and a tough finish by Isaac Finlinson, extending the lead to 55-42. The Warriors maintained a double-digit cushion for the remainder of the game, their lead ballooning to as many as 22 points in the final minutes. UC Riverside could not put together a sustained run, as every basket was answered by the disciplined and multi-faceted Hawaii offense.

The Warriors’ victory was a testament to their collective strength. Four players scored in double figures, led by Gytis Nemeiksa’s efficient 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field. Isaac Finlinson added 17 points, while Dre Bullock and Harry Rouhliadeff chipped in 17 and 13 points, respectively. Hunter Erickson orchestrated the offense with a game-high six assists. Their defense held UC Riverside to under 40% shooting in the second half and forced 14 turnovers, which they converted into 21 points.

For UC Riverside, Andrew Henderson was a bright spot, leading all scorers with 26 points, including four three-pointers. Marqui Worthy battled for 39 minutes, finishing with 17 points and three assists, and BJ Kolly added 12 points. However, the Highlanders lacked the secondary scoring and defensive stops needed to challenge a Hawaii team operating at peak efficiency.

The win improved Hawaii’s record to 22-7 overall and solidified its position near the top of the Big West standings. The Warriors have now won eight of their last ten games. UC Riverside fell to 10-22, concluding a difficult regular season. The game drew a crowd of 4,880 to the Stan Sheriff Center.

Hawaii will look to carry this momentum into its regular-season finale on Saturday at home against Long Beach State. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Hawaii entered the contest with an 86.5% probability to win, a projection they fulfilled with a comprehensive team performance.