Hawai’i Edges UC San Diego in Tight Conference Showdown

HONOLULU, Hawaii — In a closely contested conference matchup, the University of Hawai'i men’s basketball team narrowly defeated UC San Diego 26-16 at the Stan Sheriff Center on Thursday night. The game, broadcast on ESPN+, saw both teams struggle with turnovers and shooting accuracy, but Hawai’i managed to pull ahead late in the first half.

The Tritons of UC San Diego started strong, with Kody Williams sinking a three-pointer early in the game. However, Hawai’i’s Akira Jacobs responded with back-to-back three-pointers, shifting momentum in favor of the Rainbow Warriors. Jacobs’ performance proved pivotal, as Hawai’i capitalized on UC San Diego’s seven turnovers to maintain a slim lead.

“Akira really stepped up when we needed him,” said Hawai’i head coach Eran Ganot. “His ability to hit those shots under pressure was crucial for us tonight.”

UC San Diego’s Maximo Milovich struggled with foul trouble, limiting his playing time and impact on the game. Despite the loss, Tritons coach Eric Olen praised his team’s defensive effort. “We held them to 54.3% shooting, which is below their average,” Olen said. “But we need to take better care of the ball and convert more opportunities.”

Hawai’i improved to 17-4 overall and 7-2 in conference play, while UC San Diego fell to 12-8 and 4-5 in the conference. The Rainbow Warriors will look to build on this win as they prepare for their next game against Long Beach State, while UC San Diego aims to bounce back against Cal State Fullerton.