And then there were two atop the leaderboard.
In Thursday鈥檚 opener of a two-game road trip, the 91直播 basketball team held off UC Davis 77-73 before 1,821 at University Credit Union Center in Northern California. By improving to 20-7 overall and 12-5 in the Big West, the Rainbow Warriors maintained a share of first place with UC Irvine. In a battle of two of the tri-leaders, UCI rallied to defeat Cal State Northridge.
The top two teams receive double byes in next month鈥檚 Big West Tournament in Henderson, Nev. The third and fourth seeds receive a single bye. Cal Poly clinched the eighth 鈥� and final 鈥� slot in the tournament.
Thursday鈥檚 outcome also gave the 鈥橞ows the fourth 20-win season in Eran Ganot鈥檚 11 years as UH head coach.
鈥淥urs, not mine,鈥� Ganot said of the milestone.
Center Isaac 鈥淏ig Fish鈥� Johnson, who scored 16 points and hit two clutch free throws with 17.2 seconds to play, said: 鈥淚t felt good, but we鈥檝e got another one ahead of us. We can鈥檛 celebrate too early. We鈥檝e got another one (against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday). We鈥檙e good. We鈥檙e happy we won this one and ruined (the Aggies鈥�) senior night. We鈥檝e got one more game to play.鈥�
The 鈥橞ows broke out of a deep-shooting slump by connecting on 10 of 22 shots from behind the arc. Johnson and point guard Hunter Erickson buried three 3s apiece.
鈥淛ust another game,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淢y coaches have confidence in me to shoot. I just go into the game that if the shots are open, I鈥檒l take it. If you have an open shot and you鈥檙e in rhythm, shoot it.鈥�
The 鈥橞ows led by as many as 14 in the second half when the Aggies chipped away on drives into the lane for layups or fouls. The Aggies drew 19 fouls that were converted into 21 free throws made in 26 attempts.
The 鈥橞ows made 11 of 13 from the stripe.
The Aggies closed to 73-71 with 24.4 seconds to play. But then UH鈥檚 Johnson, who played sparingly in the second half after picking up his fourth foul, was fouled with 17.2 seconds to play. Johnson swished two free throws to extend the 鈥橞ows鈥� lead to 75-71.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the goal,鈥� Johnson said of his free throws. 鈥淵ou have to put them in. I was happy they fouled me. I have full confidence I鈥檒l make 鈥檈m.鈥�
UCD freshman point guard Marcus Wilson was fouled with 11.7 seconds to play, and his two free throws made it a one-possession game.
After UH used its final timeout, wing Isaac Finlinson was fouled. His two free throws completed the scoring.
Gytis Nemeiksa blocked Wilson鈥檚 meaningless layup attempt as time expired. It was the fourth time Wilson was blocked in the second half. Wilson led the the Aggies with 25 points.
鈥淚鈥檓 really proud of our guys,鈥� said Ganot, noting the Aggies also are 鈥渁 good team, a good program, one we have a lot of respect for. They were playing at home on their senior night. When they made their run, we missed a couple layups. 鈥� It鈥檚 not supposed to be easy. You have to find different ways to get it done. I鈥檓 so proud of our entire team.鈥�
Erickson, who has taken over the point following Aaron Hunkin-Claytor鈥檚 season-ending injury, contributed 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Finlinson added 13 points. Isaiah Kerr and Dre Bullock held Connor Sevilla, who entered as a 42.6% 3-point shooter, to 2-for-9 from behind the arc. Sevilla missed his first six 3-point shots. Yacine Toumi provided post stability when Johnson was in foul trouble.
鈥淗ow can I not be proud of our guys?鈥� Ganot said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e giving us maximum effort.鈥�