HONOLULU --- Sheriff Drammeh hit the game-tying free throw with four seconds left and Hawai'i outscored Cal State Fullerton in overtime as the Titans five-game winning streak came to an end, 64-58, Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
The Titans (14-13, 8-6) led for the majority of the second half but the Rainbow Warriors (14-13, 8-6) were able to get to the free throw line in the second half and overtime to comeback and defeat Fullerton to snap the Titans winning streak.
Tre' Coggins led the Titans with 15 points while Jackson Rowe recorded his second straight double-double and fifth of the season, scoring 10 points and pulling down 13 rebounds in 38 minutes of action. Arkim Robertson grabbed five boards for Fullerton and added three blocks.
Noah Allen led all scorers for the Rainbow Warriors, dropping 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting while Jack Purchase added 13 points and six rebounds. Gibson Johnson scored 11 points, grabbed six boards and recorded a game-high four blocks.
Hawai'i led throughout the first half after Sheriff Drammeh had the opening tip come right to him at the Rainbow Warriors arc and he was able to beat his defenders for a slam-dunk two seconds into the game. Darcy Malone tied it with a dunk a few possessions later but the Rainbow Warriors got two straight buckets to build a two-possession edge that they held through the first half.
Both teams shot an identical 10-for-26 from the field in the first 20 minutes and struggled mightily to find the range as Fullerton shot 0-for-10 from 3-point land while the Rainbow Warriors fared little better, going 1-for-12.
The Titans came out of the break and outscored Hawai'i 9-3 to take a 30-26 lead. Fullerton would lead by as much as seven midway through the second half before the Rainbow Warriors began chipping away thanks to the charity stripe. Hawai'i went 9-for-16 from the free throw line in the second half after shooting just three free throws in the first and that allowed the hosts to hang around.
With 2:14 left in regulation, Coggins drilled a jumper over the defense to put the Titans up 46-43. A layup by Allen with 1:10 left made it a one-point game and Khalil Ahmad missed a 3-pointer with 38 seconds left to give the Rainbow Warriors a chance to jump back in front.
Allen got into the lane and missed a turnaround hook shot that came straight down and bounced off a couple of players before Drammeh was able to come up with it. Rowe, diving for the loose ball, made contact with Drammeh and was whistled for the foul and sent the Hawai'i guard to the line, where he made one of two to send the game into overtime.
In the extra period, the Rainbow Warriors got the scoring started with a 3-pointer from Purchase. Rowe then went to the line and hit a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to one before Allen drilled a midrange jumper to make it three.
Rowe then collected an offensive rebound on a Coggins 3-point attempt and went up with a reverse layup and drew a foul, giving the Titans a chance to tie the game.
But Rowe missed the free throw and Purchase hit another 3-pointer and the Rainbow Warriors never looked back.
Fullerton will return home and host UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night at Titan Gym. It will also be senior night as the Titans honor their four seniors; Coggins, Leslie, Darcy Malone and Richard Peters in pregame ceremony. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
NOTES: The Titans recorded 11 steals on Saturday night and have 64 steals in their last seven games. Leslie led the way with four while Rowe added three… Fullerton is now 2-3 in overtime games this season with all three losses coming away from Titan Gym. They are now 2-8 in overtime games under Dedrique Taylor… Fullerton now trails the all-time series against Hawai'i, 12-3. The Titans have not won in Honolulu since Nov. 16, 2008.
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