The 鈥淏ig Fish鈥� got his way.
Isaac 鈥淏ig Fish鈥� Johnson amassed 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to boost the 91直播 basketball team to an 86-56 rout of Manhattan in Friday鈥檚 second round of the Outrigger Rainbow Classic in Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
A crowd of 2,349 saw Johnson flush two dunks 鈥� one off Isaac Finlinson鈥檚 missed jumper, another from guard Isaiah Kerr鈥檚 lob 鈥� sink four 3s and make a one-legged leap to block forward Anthony Isaac鈥檚 short jumper. Johnson, a transfer from Utah State, celebrated with several gestures, including his self-styled 鈥淏ig Fish Chomp,鈥� a version of the two-armed Gator Chomp.
Johnson earned the nickname as a youth when he was known as 鈥淏ig Fish鈥� and his shorter pal as 鈥淟ittle Fish.鈥� The chomping gesture was created by Utah State fans whenever he made a highlight-worthy play.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of a staple from when I was at Utah State with the crowd,鈥� 7-foot Johnson said. 鈥淚t kind of helps bring energy. It gets a little bit of that body movement and that noise going. I think it鈥檚 something fun the kids and the rest of the crowd like. Hopefully, we can make it a thing (in 91直播) and I have more opportunities to do good to keep it going.鈥�
Johnson scored 20 of his points in the second half, when the 鈥橞ows (3-1) were without power forward/center Harry Rouhliadeff. With 5:48 left in the first half, Rouhliadeff was inadvertently hit on a putback. Rouhliadeff was on the ground for about a minute before being helped to the training room. He did not play the rest of the game.
But Finlinson picked up the scoring in the second half, scoring 11 of his 14 points. As a Snow College sophomore, Finlinson was named junior college鈥檚 player of the year.
Johnson then took over, drawing defenders with post moves, and popping outside for 3-point shots. On one sequence, Johnson stepped back across the arc and swished a corner 3.
鈥淲e know Big Fish can shoot,鈥� Finlinson said. 鈥淗e can do that any given night. He is a great shooting big man. When he gets it going, he鈥檚 a really good player and hard to stop.
The 鈥橞ows set the tone with an on-ball defense. The Jaspers (2-2) entered averaging nine made 3-point field goals a game. But facing a rotation of perimeter defenders 鈥� Aaron Hunkin-Claytor, Kerr and Hunter Erickson 鈥� the Jaspers were forced to find points on cuts and drives.
鈥淭hey just make you attack the rim with their defensive concepts,鈥� Manhattan coach John Gallagher said. 鈥淲e just have to stay poised around the rim. We didn鈥檛 do enough poise. We rushed a lot of shots around the rim.鈥�
Against the 鈥橞ows鈥� active post players, the Jaspers missed their first six layups. In all, 15 of the Jaspers鈥� 26 layups would not fall. The Jaspers were 4-for-11 on 3s. Manhattan guard Jaden Winston, who averaged 17 points per game, was held to six points on 2-for-9 shooting. Devin Dinkins and Erik Oliver-Bush each had six points for the Jaspers.
鈥淥ur point-of-attack defense has been incredible at the guard position,鈥� UH coach Eran Ganot said. 鈥淭his was a unique challenge. They had three dynamic guards. 鈥� We held them to a combined 4-for-23. You鈥檙e never going to shut guys down. If you make them work on the other end, if you make 鈥檈m inefficient offensively, hopefully you wear 鈥檈m down.鈥�
Gallagher said: 鈥淭heir length, I thought, bothered us. They鈥檙e a great team. They showed it against Oregon. 鈥� We鈥檒l look back at this game. I think we鈥檒l benefit from it. This provided a lot of challenges on both sides of the ball.鈥�
The 鈥橞ows also dominated the boards, constructing a 49-29 advantage. The 鈥橞ows鈥� 15 offensive rebounds were parlayed into 18 second-chance points. The Jaspers managed only a free throw on a second opportunity.
鈥淲e鈥檙e pretty good on the offensive boards,鈥� Ganot said, noting the 鈥橞ows only turned the ball over 10 times. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 rebound a turnover.鈥�
Backup center Yacine Toumi scored 10 points and pulled down five rebounds in 10 minutes, 21 seconds. He drew four fouls but also fouled out.
Isaac came off the bench to score 17 for the Jaspers.
The 鈥橞ows face Utah Tech in tonight鈥檚 final round, Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Utah Tech 81, Mississippi Valley State 75, 2OT
Forward Ethan Potter scored all eight of Utah Tech鈥檚 points in the second overtime to help the Blazers even their record in this three-game tournament.
Potter hit a jumper to break a 73-all tie 34 seconds into the second overtime. After Daniel Mayfield re-tied it at 75 with a jumper, Potter scored the next six points on a layiup and four free throws.
Potter finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds in 42 minutes.