Game Notes | Big West Tournament Central | Big West Tournament Bracket
VIDEO: UH Prepares For Tournament

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The No. 5 seed University of Hawai'i men's basketball team will open the Big West Conference Tournament against fourth-seeded Long Beach State in Thursday's quarterfinal round at 8:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. HT) at the Honda Center.
 
It will be the second time in less than a week that the Rainbow Warriors and 49ers will clash. The teams split the regular-season series, including an 84-75 LBSU win in the regular-season finale on Saturday, March 4 in Long Beach. This will also be the third straight year the teams meet up in the Big West tournament with UH winning the previous matchups in 2015 (quarterfinals) and 2016 (championship).

UH earned the opportunity to defend its 2016 Big West Tournament title when the NCAA announced on March 3 that it would lift UH's postseason ban after a year-long appeal process. The 'Bows are 5-3 all-time in the tournament and have advanced to the title game in each of the last two seasons. 

The 'Bows are led by senior transfer Noah Allen (15.5 ppg/5.9 rpg) who earned first-team all-conference honors after leading the Big West in scoring (18.3 ppg) during league games. Two other starters in the UH frontcourt - junior Gibson Johnson (11.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and sophomore Jack Purchase (9.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg) - were named honorable mention.
 
Game 30 Tipoff Notes
What: 2017 Big West Conference Basketball Tournament
Who: No. 5 Hawai'i (14-15, 8-8 BW) vs. No. 4 Long Beach State (14-18, 9-7 BW)
Date: Thursday, March 9, 2017
Time: 8:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. HT)
Where: Honda Center (18,336) - Anaheim, Calif.
Television: FOX Sports Prime Ticket. Mark Rogondino (PxP); Corey Maggette (Analyst); Rahshaun Haylock (Sidelines)
Streaming Video: FoxSportsGo.com
Radio:  ESPN 1420 AM. Bobby Curran (PxP).
Streaming Audio: espn1420am.com
Live Stats: StatBroadcast.com
Twitter: @HawaiiMBB #HawaiiMBB
Coaches:  Eran Ganot is in his second season at UH (42-21). Dan Monson is in his10th season at LBSU (169-158).
Series Information: LBSU leads, 13-9.

About LBSU: The preseason favorite to win the Big West, LBSU finished fourth in the regular-season with a 9-7 mark...the 49ers led the Big West in scoring offense in league games averaging 79.2 ppg and also led in field goal percentage (.463) and assists (14.7 apg)...four 49ers earned all-Big West mention, including second-team selections Justin Bibbins and Temidayo Yussuf.

UH in the BWT: UH makes its fifth straight appearance in th Big West Tournament...the 'Bows are 5-3 (.625) all-time...UH has one tournament title (2016)...UH has reached the semifinals and finals each of the last two years (2015, '16)...UH was knocked out in the quarterfinals in its first two appearances in the tournament (2013, '14)...this is the third time in five years that UH will be the No. 5 seed...the 'Bows made it to the finals in 2015 as a No. 5 seed.