By: Kennedy Choo

With 12 minutes left in the first half, senior starting center Isaac Johnson picked up two quick fouls, booking his ticket to the bench earlier than expected. The University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Warrior basketball team was clinging to a slim 17–14 lead despite a hot start, trying to hold off the UC Davis Aggies. Stepping in for Johnson was graduate forward and Seton Hall transfer Yacine Toumi, who typically plays in shorter spurts behind the senior center. But tonight, Toumi had to shoulder the load — and he delivered.

“To be honest, I’m just trying to play hard,” Toumi said. “It’s my last year, I want to finish on a good note.”

In 20 minutes, Toumi put up a season-high 13 points along with two rebounds, two blocks and two steals, sparking Hawai‘i (7-2, 1-0 Big West Conference) to a 75–69 victory in its final Big West opener.

Graduate guard Dre Bullock joined the surge, leading the Rainbow Warriors with 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals to open conference play.

“I wish I could have coached him longer,” head coach Eran Ganot said. “He’s a great character. Just scratching the surface, but you’re seeing it.”

Bullock nearly brought the crowd to its feet early, attempting a baseline poster dunk over UC Davis (5-3, 0-1 BWC)  center Niko Rocak, but couldn’t finish over the 6-foot-9 big man.

“He can certainly get a crowd going,” Ganot said.

Moments later, Bullock came off a screen on the left wing and buried a three with 18:50 left in the first half, putting Hawai‘i up 4–2. He stayed hot, drilling another from the top of the key at the 16:54 mark to stretch the lead to 9–2.

Toumi’s spark off the bench wasn’t the only lift Hawai‘i got from its reserves. Hawai‘i’s bench poured in 31 points on the night, giving the Warriors the depth they needed to weather early foul trouble. Junior guard Isaiah Kerr added seven points and three rebounds, while senior forward Gytis Nemeiksa chipped in six points and two boards.

With early fouls piling up and momentum swings going both ways, UC Davis cut the lead to 66–61 with two minutes to play. But sophomore guard Aaron Hunkin-Claytor delivered the final blow, calmly knocking down eight free throws in the closing moments to seal the win for the Rainbow Warriors.

Despite shooting just 58% from the line overall, Hawai‘i found its touch when it mattered most.

“We talk about that in our huddle,” Hunkin-Claytor said. “I’ve been getting in the gym just to put those free throws in. I had to trust myself at the line.”

The Rainbow Warriors return to the Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday, hosting the Cal State Fullerton Titans at 7 p.m.