In a recent matchup on the hardwood, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors reigned supreme over the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders with a final scoreboard reading 71-62. Ryan Rapp, a senior wing, was the spark plug off the bench for Hawaii, churning out a career-high 19 points and proving critical to their victory on Saturday night. His stellar performance was complemented by a 100% success rate from beyond the arc where he dropped all five of his 3-point attempts, according to the AP News.
Despite being faced with an eight-point deficit earlier in the game, Rapp and his teammates orchestrated an 18-2 run which not only erased the lag but provided a comfortable nine-point lead. "I was just trying to help the guys win," Rapp is quoted as saying, in a statement gathered by Spectrum Local News. Rapp's commitment shone through as he provided six rebounds and three assists, facing off against a team that's notorious for their intense ball pressure.
The Rainbow Warriors now step forward with a 6-3 record, setting their sights on the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, where they're scheduled to open against Charlotte on Dec. 22. Rapp reminisced about the previous year’s championship win, signaling his and the team's aspirations, to repeat that success: "There’s no better feeling than winning that championship. Our expectation is to win it," he told Spectrum Local News.
Some vital statistics from the game include Marcus Green, who netted 15 points and Gytis Nemeiksa, adding another 14 to the team's tally. The Warriors demonstrated a fortified grip over the ball especially in the game's latter half, reducing their turnovers and successfully neutralizing the Islanders' aggressive defense. UH's head coach, Eran Ganot spoke to the team's progress, noting, "We do think he’s a guy who’s grown up with the game, who can shoot better than he has shot it, and you saw that today. You root for those guys," when referencing Ryan Rapp’s standout performance, as per Spectrum Local News.
In response to the pressurized defense by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Hawaii's meticulous handling of the ball was a decisive factor in their win. The Islanders, coached by Jim Shaw, remained resilient with a notable 10-1 run closing the gap to just two points at one stretch in the game. However, the Rainbow Warriors made critical plays to extend their lead and secure the win. "We put some pressure on them but they had a level of toughness and you’ve gotta give credit to their guards, they stepped up and took care of the ball," Shaw acknowledged in a statement shared by Spectrum Local News.
