Game Notes

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team kicks off a five-game homestand when it hosts Long Beach State on Saturday, Jan. 14 in a re-match of last year's Big West Tournament title game.
 
It will be the Big West home opener for the Rainbow Warriors (6-9, 0-2 BW) who dropped back-to-back contests at Cal State Fullerton (64-67) and UC Irvine (56-84) in its first road trip of the season. UH looks to avoid an 0-3 start in Big West play, something which has yet to happen since the school joined the conference in 2012-13.
 
LBSU (6-12, 1-2 BW) swept the regular-season series last year with wins in Honolulu (78-64) and Long Beach (74-72) and have won six of eight Big West regular-season meetings. UH, however, has ousted the 49ers in each of the last two Big West Tournaments, including last year's historic 64-60 championship game win that propelled the Hawai'i into the NCAA Tournament.
 
A pair of true freshman has led UH in scoring in each of the last two games. Leland Green paved the way with 12 points at Cal State Fullerton, while Matthew Owies poured in a season-high 13 points at UC Irvine.
 
Game 16 Tipoff Notes
Who: Hawai'i (6-9, 1-1 Big West) vs. Long Beach State (6-13, 1-2 Big West)
When: Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m. HT
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) - Honolulu, HI
Television: OCSports. Kanoa Leahey (play-by-play) and Artie Wilson (color) on the call.
Streaming Video: Big West.tv
Radio: ESPN 1420 AM. Bobby Curran (play-by-play) and Jeff Portnoy (color) on the call.
Audio Webcast: espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Statbroadcast.com
Ticket Information: $30 (lower); $18-$20 (upper-adult); $16-$18 (upper-sr. citizen); $5-$7 (upper-youth, ages 4-HS); UH Manoa students free with validated ID. Parking $6.
Promotions: The California Hotel & Casino is the sponsor and will award a Vacations Hawaii trip for two to Las Vegas to the winner of the "Shaka Nae Nae Dance-Off Contest" during halftime. Must be 21 years of age to participate. Fans can register at the sports marketing table located at Gate A. Also, sign up for your chance to win round trip interisland tickets for one during the California Hotel & Casino "Shooters Challenge" in the second half. 
Coaches: Eran Ganot is in his second season at UH (34-15). Dan Monson is in his 10th season at LBSU (161-152).
Series Information: LBSU leads, 12-8
 
About LBSU: The 49ers are the preseason conference favorite....LBSU stands at 6-13 overall after playing a gauntlet of non-conference road games...the 49ers are 1-11 on the road...LBSU dropped to 1-2 in the Big West and suffered its first home loss this year with an 89-82 setback vs. CSUN on Wednesday…junior guard Evan Payne leads the team in scoring at 14.2 ppg.
 
'Bow Bits: UH will play five straight conference home games, a program first in more than 37 years of play in the WAC and Big West…UH has never started 0-3 in Big West play…the last 0-3 conference start for UH came in 2011 (0-5, WAC)…UH currently tops all Big West teams in scoring defense (66.0), turnovers forced (14.7), free throw percentage (.726), and fewest personal fouls (17.5)…freshman guard Leland Green is averaging 9.5 ppg and 5.8 rpg the last four contests, double his season averages…sophomore forward Jack Purchase has been the team's leading scorer in the last five games, averaging 12.4 ppg while going 15-of-36 from behind the arc.