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PORTLAND, Ore. — When the music stopped, the Hawaii basketball team was left without a seat.
There were no tears, no anger, no UH logo to stamp onto the board displaying the NCAA Tournament bracket.
“That’s basketball,” said wing/guard Quandre “Dre” Bullock, whose 13th-seeded Rainbow Warriors fell to No. 4 Arkansas 97-78 in Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament’s West Region in Moda Center. “The result wasn’t what we wanted. But we gave it all we had.”
Five days earlier, the ’Bows won the Big West Tournament to earn their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2016, Eran Ganot’s first season as UH head coach.
This time, the ’Bows faced all the elements of a nightmare: A Hall of Fame coach (John Calipari), champions of the nation’s best conference (SEC), and a high-wattage freshman backcourt (Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas).
It did not matter if the Razorbacks had a leaky defense. Their prolific offense entered averaging 90.1 points on 50% shooting. They play keep-away against post defenders: move up to guard the ball screen, and Trevon Brazile, Malique Ewin or Billy Richmond III will sneak behind to convert lobs into dunks. According to published reports, this year Arkansas spent $8.5 million on Calipari and $10 million on the roster.
Even with injuries to forward Nick Pringle and wing Karter Knox, according to UH point guard Hunter Erickson, “they’re bigger and more athletic than the kind of teams you see in the Big West.”
The Razorbacks’ skills — and the ’Bows’ unfortunate shooting — were matched early.
The Razorbacks scored the first 11 points, then fattened the margin to 26-6 with 11:37 left in the first half. The ’Bows had open looks at an unforgiving rim. They missed 12 of their first 15 shots, including seven taken from behind the arc.
“Maybe we were too excited,” UH forward Gytis Nemeiksa said. “The beginning of the game was kind of tough. We were having good looks, but the shots weren’t going in.”
UH captain Harry Roulhiadeff said: “It was one of those days. We had great shots, some good looks, I can’t deny that. The ball can bounce one way or bounce another. It got away in the first half.”
In what was emblematic of Hawaii’s struggles, Hunter Erickson’s apparent 30-foot shot as time expired at the half was retroactively ruled to have been launched after the horn sounded. The officials also negated Nemeiksa’s heave from the right corner because the tips of his Nikes were out of bounds.
Led by Bullock and Isaac “Big Fish” Johnson, the ’Bows scored on drives and 3s to cobble surges they could not sustain.
“I don’t think all game anybody really forced anything,” Johnson said. “That’s how it goes. Our defense wasn’t up to par. Their offense was really good. Their offense was elite, and our defense was not. That’s the end of that. I thought we scored the ball well. We played together really well. I think we turned it over less than we usually do. They’re just a really well-coached team with really good players, and they won.”
Acuff, the SEC’s scoring and assists leader, set the pace of what appeared to be an improvisational offense. Using screens as round-abouts, Acuff would loop to the top of the key to start a drive or exit on the wings for jumpers. In a personal 7-2 outburst, Acuff dashed for two layups and then hit a 3.
The Razorbacks splashed the paint with 64 points, including 17 layups and 11 dunks. In a display of athleticism, Brazile caught a hip-level pass with his right hand and, in a continuous motion, threw down a windmill dunk. Brazile, a 6-foot-10 forward, used his 7-foot wing span to block Bullock’s shot off a drive. Richmond’s jam off an alley-oop pass punctuated the sequence.
The Razorbacks transformed 12 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points. They also scored 23 points on fast breaks.
“We could have evened it out playing harder on defense, getting some more stops,” Bullock said. “They kind of had the hot hand.”
The Razorbacks were able to force contact on drives. They hit 15 of 17 free throws. The ’Bows were 6-for-11 from the stripe.
“What I was most happy with, we end up with 26 assists (on 39 baskets),” Calipari said. “We passed the ball to each other. We created shots for each other.”
Bullock, who finished with 21 points, said the ’Bows were not overcome by the spotlight or heralded opponent.
“Everybody laces up their shoes the same way,” Bullock said. “Regardless of big name, no name, you still have to play basketball. That’s what I tried to focus on today, giving all my effort, all my all, especially for the fans.”
After the game, Ganot reflected on the thrill ride that was the 2025-26 season.
“There’s a finality to this,” said Ganot, whose ’Bows finished 24-9. “It’s what we all signed up for. It’s what we live for. Perspective is everything. I’ve said this, you’ve heard me: The ups, enjoy for a sec, get back to work; the downs, let it hurt for a sec, get back to work. keep moving forward. It’s OK to be human.”
For now, the ’Bows’ work is complete.
NO. 4 ARKANSAS 97, NO. 13 HAWAII 78
RAINBOW WARRIORS (24-9)
NO.
PLAYER
MIN
FG-A
3PT-A
FT-A
O-DREB
TREB
PF
A
TO
BLK
STL
PTS
04
Bullock
37
9-22
1-7
2-6
2-6
8
1
1
3
1
3
21
20
Johnson
24
6-13
3-7
0-0
3-2
5
4
0
1
0
1
15
06
Finlinson
31
4-7
2-3
2-2
0-2
2
2
2
1
0
0
12
14
Rouhliadeff
32
4-7
1-2
0-0
2-5
7
1
1
1
0
0
9
00
Erickson
25
2-6
1-5
0-0
0-1
1
1
6
3
0
0
5
07
Kerr
25
4-10
1-4
2-3
1-1
2
2
5
1
1
0
11
05
Nemeiksa
21
2-4
1-2
0-0
1-1
2
2
0
1
0
1
5
10
Toumi
3
0-0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
02
Carter
1
0-0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
08
Economou
1
0-0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TEAM
2-2
4
1
Totals
200
31-69
10-30
6-11
11-20
31
13
15
12
2
5
78
Percentages
44.9
33.3
54.5
RAZORBACKS (27-8)
NO.
PLAYER
MIN
FG-A
3PT-A
FT-A
O-DREB
TREB
PF
A
TO
BLK
STL
PTS
05
Acuff Jr.
36
9-19
2-5
4-4
1-2
3
3
7
3
0
1
24
01
Thomas
35
9-16
1-5
2-2
3-5
8
1
5
0
1
2
21
07
Brazile
35
8-17
1-7
2-3
1-5
6
1
1
1
3
2
19
12
Ewin
31
6-8
0-0
4-4
6-6
12
1
6
3
1
2
16
24
Richmond III
31
5-8
0-2
0-0
1-6
7
3
3
2
0
1
10
21
Wagner
31
2-4
0-2
3-4
0-3
3
1
4
1
0
0
7
30
Sealy
1
0-0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TEAM
0-2
2
Totals
200
39-72
4-21
15-17
12-29
41
10
26
10
5
8
97
Percentages
54.2
19.0
88.2
Halftime — Arkansas 54, Hawaii 36
Technical fouls — none. Officials — Christopher Merlo, Vladimir Voyard-Tadal, John Gaffney. A — NA.
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There were no tears, no anger, no UH logo to stamp onto the board displaying the NCAA Tournament bracket.
“That’s basketball,” said wing/guard Quandre “Dre” Bullock, whose 13th-seeded Rainbow Warriors fell to No. 4 Arkansas 97-78 in Thursday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament’s West Region in Moda Center. “The result wasn’t what we wanted. But we gave it all we had.”
Five days earlier, the ’Bows won the Big West Tournament to earn their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2016, Eran Ganot’s first season as UH head coach.
This time, the ’Bows faced all the elements of a nightmare: A Hall of Fame coach (John Calipari), champions of the nation’s best conference (SEC), and a high-wattage freshman backcourt (Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas).
It did not matter if the Razorbacks had a leaky defense. Their prolific offense entered averaging 90.1 points on 50% shooting. They play keep-away against post defenders: move up to guard the ball screen, and Trevon Brazile, Malique Ewin or Billy Richmond III will sneak behind to convert lobs into dunks. According to published reports, this year Arkansas spent $8.5 million on Calipari and $10 million on the roster.
Even with injuries to forward Nick Pringle and wing Karter Knox, according to UH point guard Hunter Erickson, “they’re bigger and more athletic than the kind of teams you see in the Big West.”
The Razorbacks’ skills — and the ’Bows’ unfortunate shooting — were matched early.
The Razorbacks scored the first 11 points, then fattened the margin to 26-6 with 11:37 left in the first half. The ’Bows had open looks at an unforgiving rim. They missed 12 of their first 15 shots, including seven taken from behind the arc.
“Maybe we were too excited,” UH forward Gytis Nemeiksa said. “The beginning of the game was kind of tough. We were having good looks, but the shots weren’t going in.”
UH captain Harry Roulhiadeff said: “It was one of those days. We had great shots, some good looks, I can’t deny that. The ball can bounce one way or bounce another. It got away in the first half.”
In what was emblematic of Hawaii’s struggles, Hunter Erickson’s apparent 30-foot shot as time expired at the half was retroactively ruled to have been launched after the horn sounded. The officials also negated Nemeiksa’s heave from the right corner because the tips of his Nikes were out of bounds.
Led by Bullock and Isaac “Big Fish” Johnson, the ’Bows scored on drives and 3s to cobble surges they could not sustain.
“I don’t think all game anybody really forced anything,” Johnson said. “That’s how it goes. Our defense wasn’t up to par. Their offense was really good. Their offense was elite, and our defense was not. That’s the end of that. I thought we scored the ball well. We played together really well. I think we turned it over less than we usually do. They’re just a really well-coached team with really good players, and they won.”
Acuff, the SEC’s scoring and assists leader, set the pace of what appeared to be an improvisational offense. Using screens as round-abouts, Acuff would loop to the top of the key to start a drive or exit on the wings for jumpers. In a personal 7-2 outburst, Acuff dashed for two layups and then hit a 3.
The Razorbacks splashed the paint with 64 points, including 17 layups and 11 dunks. In a display of athleticism, Brazile caught a hip-level pass with his right hand and, in a continuous motion, threw down a windmill dunk. Brazile, a 6-foot-10 forward, used his 7-foot wing span to block Bullock’s shot off a drive. Richmond’s jam off an alley-oop pass punctuated the sequence.
The Razorbacks transformed 12 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points. They also scored 23 points on fast breaks.
“We could have evened it out playing harder on defense, getting some more stops,” Bullock said. “They kind of had the hot hand.”
The Razorbacks were able to force contact on drives. They hit 15 of 17 free throws. The ’Bows were 6-for-11 from the stripe.
“What I was most happy with, we end up with 26 assists (on 39 baskets),” Calipari said. “We passed the ball to each other. We created shots for each other.”
Bullock, who finished with 21 points, said the ’Bows were not overcome by the spotlight or heralded opponent.
“Everybody laces up their shoes the same way,” Bullock said. “Regardless of big name, no name, you still have to play basketball. That’s what I tried to focus on today, giving all my effort, all my all, especially for the fans.”
After the game, Ganot reflected on the thrill ride that was the 2025-26 season.
“There’s a finality to this,” said Ganot, whose ’Bows finished 24-9. “It’s what we all signed up for. It’s what we live for. Perspective is everything. I’ve said this, you’ve heard me: The ups, enjoy for a sec, get back to work; the downs, let it hurt for a sec, get back to work. keep moving forward. It’s OK to be human.”
For now, the ’Bows’ work is complete.
NO. 4 ARKANSAS 97, NO. 13 HAWAII 78
RAINBOW WARRIORS (24-9)
NO.
PLAYER
MIN
FG-A
3PT-A
FT-A
O-DREB
TREB
PF
A
TO
BLK
STL
PTS
04
Bullock
37
9-22
1-7
2-6
2-6
8
1
1
3
1
3
21
20
Johnson
24
6-13
3-7
0-0
3-2
5
4
0
1
0
1
15
06
Finlinson
31
4-7
2-3
2-2
0-2
2
2
2
1
0
0
12
14
Rouhliadeff
32
4-7
1-2
0-0
2-5
7
1
1
1
0
0
9
00
Erickson
25
2-6
1-5
0-0
0-1
1
1
6
3
0
0
5
07
Kerr
25
4-10
1-4
2-3
1-1
2
2
5
1
1
0
11
05
Nemeiksa
21
2-4
1-2
0-0
1-1
2
2
0
1
0
1
5
10
Toumi
3
0-0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
02
Carter
1
0-0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
08
Economou
1
0-0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TEAM
2-2
4
1
Totals
200
31-69
10-30
6-11
11-20
31
13
15
12
2
5
78
Percentages
44.9
33.3
54.5
RAZORBACKS (27-8)
NO.
PLAYER
MIN
FG-A
3PT-A
FT-A
O-DREB
TREB
PF
A
TO
BLK
STL
PTS
05
Acuff Jr.
36
9-19
2-5
4-4
1-2
3
3
7
3
0
1
24
01
Thomas
35
9-16
1-5
2-2
3-5
8
1
5
0
1
2
21
07
Brazile
35
8-17
1-7
2-3
1-5
6
1
1
1
3
2
19
12
Ewin
31
6-8
0-0
4-4
6-6
12
1
6
3
1
2
16
24
Richmond III
31
5-8
0-2
0-0
1-6
7
3
3
2
0
1
10
21
Wagner
31
2-4
0-2
3-4
0-3
3
1
4
1
0
0
7
30
Sealy
1
0-0
0-0
0-0
0-0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TEAM
0-2
2
Totals
200
39-72
4-21
15-17
12-29
41
10
26
10
5
8
97
Percentages
54.2
19.0
88.2
Halftime — Arkansas 54, Hawaii 36
Technical fouls — none. Officials — Christopher Merlo, Vladimir Voyard-Tadal, John Gaffney. A — NA.
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