Oregon St. Faces Hawaii For 5th Place In Diamond Head Classic

Oregon St. (7-3) vs. Hawaii (8-3) / Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, HI / 11 AM HST (1 PM PST) / ESPNU / KEJO 1240 AM / KEX 1190 AM

Game Notes / Hawaii Basketball Page

Oregon St. takes on host Hawaii on the Warriors' home court today for 5th place in the Diamond Head Classic.

It's another renewal of the ongoing rivalry this year between the schools; Oregon St. has already beaten Hawaii in football, 33-14 back in September, and then 76-64 in women's basketball, on Dec. 13.

The Beavers pulled out a 58-54 win over George Mason Monday, bouncing back from their opening game 83-71 loss to Akron. Roberto Nelson as is usually the case for Oregon St. led the way, with a game high 17 points, including 6 straight free throws, and 2 rebounds, in the last half minute of the game. This after hitting a fall-away jumper with 41 seconds left.

Devon Collier had 15 points in support of Nelson.

The Beavers were playing without senior captain Angus Brandt, who went down with an injury to his right knee a minute into the second half against Akron. Brandt hyperextended the same knee he suffered an ACL tear in that ended his season a year ago, but fortunately, only hyperextended his knee, suffering a bone bruise to his tibia and fibula. He will be a game time decision today.

It's a decision that will be up to Brandt, whose status is officially day to day.

"After the traumatic injury he had last year, he will have to decide when he's ready," Oregon St. head coach Craig Robinson said. "I won't make the decision for him; I don't want him back out there until he's ready. When your not ready to go full speed, that's when you get hurt."

Daniel Gomis, who got his first career start in place of Brandt against the Patriots, had 5 points, but also 5 blocked shots, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist.

The Warriors upset St. Mary's, who entered the tournament unbeaten, when Christian Standhardinger, who had a game high 22 points, hit the game winning jumper with 2 seconds left to pull out a 76-74 win.

The game was tight all the way, and there was never a double digit difference in the score.

Standhardinger, the Warriors' leading scorer and rebounder, who averages 17.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, was only 4 of 12 from the field, but made 14 of 17 free throws, as well as snagging a co-game high 9 boards.

Isaac Fotu added 13 points, and Brandon Spearman was right behind, with 12, and 7 rebounds. Aaron Valdes came off the Hawaii bench to add 10 points.

Hawaii's win was also a bounce back, after they lost their tournament opener in another tight one, losing 62-61 to Boise St. after the Warriors were only able to score 1 point in the final minute of that game. The Broncos play 14th ranked and unbeaten Iowa St. later today, at or shortly after 3:30 PM HST (5:30 PST) for the Tournament Championship, after beating South Carolina 80-54. The Cyclones dispatched Akron 83-60 in the other semifinal. The Gamecocks and Zips square off for 3rd place following the Beavers and Warriors' game.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com