Break is over, back to the grind for Rainbow Warriors

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The Hawaii basketball team’s farewell season continues with today’s matchup of islanders and Highlanders in Riverside, Calif.

After an 18-day hiatus, the Rainbow Warriors resume league play in their final Big West season. On July 1, the’Bows leave the Big West after 13 seasons for the Mountain West. This also probably will be the’Bows’ final regular season game at UC Riverside’s SRC Arena.

“The grind is back on, ” UH head coach Eran Ganot said of the 10-2’Bows, who won both their Big West games in December. The Big West stages “Bold Week, ” early-December games to ease the schedule congestion during the spring semester.

In previous seasons, the’Bows were host to the eight-team Diamond Head Classic, which concluded with four games on Christmas Day. But ESPN suspended the 2025 tournament, leaving the’Bows with a gap they filled with practices, officiated intrasquad scrimmages, video sessions as a team and remotely, and a five-day break that several players spent on the continent.

The goal of the hiatus, Ganot said, was to maintain fitness while enjoying time with friends and family.

“Fight like hell to get better while enjoying the journey, ” Ganot said. “If you have one without the other, it’ll make it really tough, and you won’t be happy. And if you’re not happy, you won’t be very good. … They were able to balance recharging the batteries, enjoying their friends and loved ones … while continuing to stay locked in.”

The’Bows reconvened in Long Beach, Calif., on Sunday. Monday’s session was at the Los Angeles Clippers’ practice gym in the Intuit Dome ; Tuesday’s workout was at a community college.

UCR’s basketball program has been under construction since completing a 21-victory season in March. Soon after, Mike Magpayo resigned as head coach to accept a similar position at Fordham. Gus Argenal, whose 19-year college coaching career included the previous two as Cal State Bernardino’s head coach, was named Magpayo’s successor on May 1. In August, Wesley Mallette, who was a finalist for the UH athletic director’s job, resigned as the Highlanders’ AD to become deputy athletic director at South Carolina.

“It’s been crazy since May, ” said Argenal, who signed 13 players to fill the 15-player roster. Of the two returnees, guard Parker Strauss is injured and will not play this season.

Of the movements, Argenal said, “unfortunately, it’s kind of the trend of basketball right now. Coaches leave and players, because of the portal and NIL, have a lot of opportunities, especially if you’ve got success like they did last year. A lot of (UCR ) guys went on to good programs. In the short amount of time, I like the group we have. We’re still growing.”

Andrew Henderson, a 6-foot-5 guard /wing, followed Argenal from Division II CSU Bernardino.

“He was my most important because I knew him the most, ” Argenal said of Henderson. “I was really excited for him to play Division I. … I think he’s going to have a great run here in the Big West this season. He’s already had a a good start. The best is yet to come for him.”

Argenal said Henderson is a “three-dimensional scorer ” skilled in catch-and-shoot 3s and step-back shots. Henderson also can post up, and drive in either direction. He averages a team-high 16.8 points.

“His game has translated because he can make really hard shots, ” Argenal said. “It ”s my job to try and get him some easier ones.”

Osiris Grady, a 6-9 transfer from Utah Valley, averages 14.0 points and 6.9 rebounds. Argenal said Grady is a “high-energy, high-motor ” player rotating at the four and five. Pairing Grady and 6-10 BJ Kolly, a Montana State transfer, the Highlanders can run their offense through the low post. The goal is 50 paint touches per game. The Highlanders’ man-to-man defense attacks the arc and then funnels the action toward rim protectors Grady and Kolly.

De’Undrae Perteete is a dynamic point guard who has connected on 65.6 % of his 32 3-point attempts. But Perteete’s availability is iffy because of nagging ailments. Marqi Worthy can coordinate the offense. Worthy’s drives pick up points (55 % on 2-point shots ) or fouls (team-high 73 free-throw attempts ).

RAINBOW BASKETBALL At SRC Arena, Riverside, Calif.

Hawaii (10-2, 2-0 Big West ) at UC Riverside (6-8, 1-1 BW )—When : Today, 3 p.m.—TV : Spectrum Sports Net—Radio : 1420-AM / 92.7-FM—Streaming : ESPN +

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