MANOA — The University of Hawai‘i men’s basketball team dropped back-to-back Big West Conference games to the University of Santa Barbara Friday and Saturday afternoon at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The ‘Bows lost Friday’s contest 59-50, and lost Saturday 81-74 in overtime.
Gauchos’ players Amadou Sow and Jaquori McLaughlin scored 14 points each, game- and team-high Friday.
Josh Pierre-Louis added 11 points.
The Gauchos’ defense smothered the ‘Bows, and only James Jean-Marie scored in double figures, netting 10 points.
Hawai‘i shot 18-of-54 from the field, just 33.3%.
Santa Barbara (14-3, 8-2) held the lead for over 31 minutes, and carried that momentum into Saturday’s contest.
The ‘Bows received more contributions from their scoring leaders in the second portion of the game, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory over the Gauchos, the top-ranked team in the Big West. Hawai‘i dropped the contest, 81-74.
Casdon Jardine led the ‘Bows with a team- and game-high 25 points, but it didn’t help enough, as Hawai‘i lost an overtime contest for the second consecutive week.
James Jean-Marie chipped in 17 points, and Biwali Bayles added 10 points.
Gauchos’ players McLaughlin, Sow, Miles Norris and Devearl Ramsey all scored in double digits and combined for a total of 64 points collectively, as Santa Barbara overpowered a fatigued Hawai‘i team.
The ‘Bows (7-7, 5-7) travel to play Cal State Northridge for back-to-back Big West contests Friday and Saturday.
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Jason Blasco, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
