Thursday, February 27, 2025
73°
Today’s Paper
By Billy Hull
Today • Last updated 5:56 p.m.
The Hawaii women’s basketball team saw its 14-game winning streak come to an end in Southern California as UC Riverside outscored the Rainbow Wahine by 21 points after the first quarter in a 61-51 win today at SRC Arena in Riverside, Calif.
Hannah Wickstrom scored a game-high 18 points to lead three players in double figures for the Highlanders (14-14, 10-8), who secured a bid into the Big West Conference Championships with the victory.
Imani Perez had a team-high 12 points on four made 3-pointers, four assists, four rebounds, three blocks and two steals for the Rainbow Wahine (20-7, 14-3), who remain in first place in the conference and control their own destiny for the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament despite the loss.
Lily Wahinekapu added 10 points and seven rebounds and had six of her points in the first quarter for UH, which led 20-9 after the opening 10 minutes.
Hawaii scored 31 points the rest of the game.
Post players Ritorya Tamilo and Brooklyn Rewers combined for four points on 2-for-8 shooting with two rebounds in 30 minutes.
Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It’s FREE!
UH will play its final road game of the regular season on Saturday at UC Davis.
Opens in a new tab
Opens in a new tab
500 Ala Moana Blvd. #2-200
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 529-4747
Our Company
Subscribers
More
SUBSCRIBER FAVORITES
MORE BREAKING NEWS
LOOKING BACK
Actor Gene Hackman and wife found dead alongside dog at home
Kokua Line: Why are clocks running 6 minutes fast?
Thompson jurors hear arguments on extended murder term
HPD officer needs emergency heart transplant
Home subsidy purchase program expands
Kahului woman found stabbed to death identified
Trump’s ‘very big’ minerals deal may pay off with Republicans
Senior FEMA leaders leaving already-depleted disaster agency
Man, 53, dies after being detained at Lihue Airport
Federal judge halts Trump’s mass firings by government agencies
Feb. 27, 2010: Huge quake in Chile puts Hawaii on high alert for tsunami
Opens in a new tab
Don’t miss out on what’s happening!
UC Riverside vs Hawaii Predictions, Picks, Odds for Thursday, February 27
Credit: Getty Images. Pictured: UC Riverside Highlanders G Barrington Hargress.
The UC Riverside Highlanders take on the Hawaii Warriors in Honolulu, HI. Tip-off is set for 11:59 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
UC Riverside is favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -118. The total is set at 140.5 points.
Here are my UC Riverside vs. Hawaii predictions and college basketball picks for February 27, 2025.
My Pick: PASS | Lean UC Riverside -1
My UC Riverside vs Hawaii best bet is on the Highlanders spread, with the best odds currently available at Caesars. For all of your college basketball bets, find the best lines using our live NCAAB odds page.
I’m passing on this game, but I’d bet the Highlanders if I had to pick a side.
I’m passing on the moneyline.
I’m passing on the over/under.
My Pick: PASS | Lean UC Riverside -1
The situational spot screams Hawaii.
The Highlanders head to the island after dropping a brutal overtime game to Cal Poly, 112-100.
Meanwhile, the Rainbow Warriors return home after back-to-back blowout losses against the Big West elite, UC Irvine and UC San Diego.
I think the Warriors will play better on their home court against a major step down in competition.
That said, it’s a revenge game for Riverside, which dropped the first head-to-head matchup by seven points on its home court.
But the Highlanders probably should’ve won that game. Barrington Hargress and Isaiah Moses ripped apart Hawaii’s deep drop-coverage defense by creating in the middle of the floor, combining to score 45 points on 11-for-22 (50%) shooting from the interior. The duo should do the same in the rematch.
But while Hargress and Moses shot a combined 4-for-17 (24%) from 3, the ‘Bows shot an unsustainable 10-for-17 (59%). Hawaii is the second-worst spacing team in the Big West (per ShotQuality), so it’s unreasonable to expect it to shoot the lights out again.
Unsurprisingly, ShotQuality graded the game as an analytically expected two-point Riverside win based on the “quality” of shots from both squads.
Ultimately, the situational spot says Hawaii, but the schematic matchup says Riverside. So, I’ll likely pass on this game altogether.
I put more stock in on-the-court matchups than situational spots, so I’d likely bet the Highlanders if I had to pick a side.
Follow Tanner McGrath @tannerstruth on Twitter/X.
This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Action Network makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.
Action Network is a part of the digital sports media group Better Collective
Better Collective owns and operates a group of leading digital sports media brands across the world
Better Collective is dual listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Copenhagen
Copyright 2025 © Action Network Inc, All Rights Reserved.Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | AdChoices
DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
UC Riverside vs Hawaii Prediction
UC Riverside vs Hawaii Odds
UC Riverside vs Hawaii College Basketball Betting Preview
Spread
Moneyline
Over/Under
How To Watch UC Riverside vs Hawaii
Top Stories
Follow Us On Social
Sports Betting Odds
Expert Picks
Online Sports Betting News & Offers
Best U.S. Sportsbook Bonuses & Reviews
The Action Network
Social
Mobile Apps
| UC Riverside Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|
-1.5
-102
|
140.5
-110 / -110
|
-118
|
| Hawaii Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|
+1.5
-118
|
140.5
-110 / -110
|
-102
|
‘Bows beat by UC Riverside, falls to 8th place in Big West
KHON2
by: Rob DeMello
Posted: Feb 27, 2025 / 09:06 PM HST
Updated: Feb 27, 2025 / 09:06 PM HST
The University of Hawaii men’s basketball team battled against UC Riverside on Thursday night but fell short, 82-76, in Big West action at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Before tip-off, Hawaii announced that starting guard Kody Williams will be out indefinitely after suffering a fractured wrist in practice. Freshman Aaron Hunkin-Claytor stepped into the starting lineup, finishing with 11 points and five assists.
Ryan Rapp and Gytis Nemeiksa combined for 33 points, with Nemeiksa leading the Rainbow Warriors (6-11 Big West) with 17.
Despite a strong effort, Hawaii couldn’t overcome a dominant performance from UC Riverside’s Barrington Hargress, who led all scorers with 25 points.
The loss drops Hawaii to eighth place in the Big West standings, just one game ahead of Cal Poly with three games remaining.
Only the top eight teams qualify for the conference tournament, making Saturday’s Senior Night matchup against UC Davis a crucial test for the ’Bows.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
