Box Score | Box Score (html) | Watch Video |


HONOLULU – Garrett Jefferson hit a floating jumper at the buzzer to lift the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team to an astounding 90-88 comeback win over Cal State Fullerton Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. With the win UH improved to 8-5 overall and 2-0 in the Big West.
 
Jefferson picked the right time to score his only points of the game, taking the ball the length of the court in less than five seconds before launching a floater just inside the free throw line that found nothing but net. The jumper came just moments after CSF (7-6, 1-1 BWC) tied the score on a three-pointer by D.J. Seeley with 4.9 seconds remaining. 
 
It was a fitting end to one of the most exciting UH games in recent years as both teams exchanged blows throughout. The Rainbow Warriors had the final say, overcoming an 11-point deficit in the game's final five minutes to remain undefeated in league play. 
 
UH shot 56 percent from the floor and were led by Isaac Fotu who finished with a career high 29 points. Fotu, who scored UH's first 10 points and notched 20 by halftime, fell just one point short of the freshman single-game record of 30 set by Chris Gaines in 1987. The native of Torbay, New Zealand, finished 13-of-16 from the floor and also added nine rebounds to nearly complete a double-double.
 
Christian Standhardinger added 15 points, including a key three-pointer late in the game, while Brandon Spearman also had 15. Brandon Jawato, who came up big late in the game, finished with 11 points.
 
The Titans were led by the trio of Kwame Vaughn (26 points), Seeley (22) and Sammy Yeager (15) who combined for 63 of the team's 88 points.
 
The first half saw five ties and four lead changes. The Titans went on an 11-2 run to stake a 35-26 lead, but UH came back with nine unanswered points of its own and the teams were deadlocked at the break, 40-40. 
 
UH scored the first bucket of the second half, but the Titans scored seven straight points to retake the lead. It was a lead CSF would hold for better part of the second half as the Titans eventually went up by 11 points, 80-69, with 5:24 remaining.
 
The 'Bows however wouldn't quit as the team ended the game on a 21-8 run. A trio of three-pointers by Jawato, Manroop Clair, and Standhardinger helped fuel a rally that saw UH overtake the Titans in the final minute as UH shot 63 percent in the second half.  
 
UH will now wrap up its six-game homestand when its hosts UC Riverside on Saturday, Jan. 5 in a Big West contest. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.