HONOLULU— The University of Hawaii men’s basketball team is preparing for the 59th annual OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic on Nov. 12, 14 and 15 at Bankoh Arena in the Stan Sheriff Center. Manhattan, Utah Tech and the Rainbow Warriors’ tournament opener, Mississippi Valley State, join Hawai’i in this year’s tournament.
The OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic is the nation’s oldest preseason collegiate tournament. UH has won the tournament 16 times and will look to defend its 2024 Classic title.
| 59th edition of the OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic | ||||
| Opponent | Dates | Time | Mississippi Valley State | Wednesday November 12 | 7:00 p.m. excluding VAT Manhattan | Friday November 14 | 7:00 p.m. excluding VAT Utah Technology | Saturday November 15 | 7:00 p.m. excluding VAT |
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| Location | Honolulu, O’ahu – Bankoh Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center | |||
| Television | Specter Sports – Ch. 12 [SD] and 1012 [HD] | |||
| Live Stream | ESPN+ (obscured in Hawaii) | |||
| Radio | ESPN Honolulu / Sideline Hawaii app | |||
| Live Statistics | StatBroadcast.com | |||
| Game Notes | Hawaii | |||
| Social networks | @HawaiiMBB | #HawaiiMBB | @HawaiiBasketball  | Facebook  |
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| Tickets | ETicketHawaii.com | |||
PROMOTIONSAt every UH game in the tournament, title sponsor OUTRIGGER will host exciting halftime events with great prizes. The winner will receive a one-night stay at the OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel plus two tickets to Hawaii’s hottest show — TOTACH by Cirque du Soleil. The finalist will win a $50 gift card.
Be sure to watch the OUTRIGGER PaddleCam for your chance to win $100 in Kani Ka Pila Grille gift cards to OUTRIGGER Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort. One lucky fan will win an OUTRIGGER visor and our team will throw stadium-approved giveaways into the stands during intermission.
Wednesday November 12: Ta taste of the Hawai’i series with “Bows and Brews. Food is a special part of Hawaiian culture and it’s time to recognize it with Rainbow Warrior basketball! We recognize spam with various offers in Bank Arena for fans to enjoy, as well as a Spam Musubi Toss courtesy of 7 Eleven. Meanwhile, the ‘Bows and Brews deal is $30 and includes two upper-level seats and $20 concession credit. A maximum of eight seats per match can be purchased. This offer must be purchased online.
Friday November 14: Hawaiian reggae evening. Come to the game and groove with all kinds of reggae vibes. Do you have a suggestion for a song or two? We are all ears!
Saturday November 15: Gather the island night. It’s the first Saturday night game of the season and we want Bankoh Arena to be bouncing all night long! Create a real home atmosphere with ti leaves, creative signs and the loudest “CHEE HOOO” you can!
HEAD COACH ERAN GANOTOverall record: 175-121 (12th season)
In Hawai’i: 172-119 (11th season)
ALL-TIME RECORDS vs. TOURNAMENT FIELDvs. Mississippi Valley State: 5-0
against Manhattan: 1-0
against Utah Tech: first meeting
OPENING TIP
- UH seeks its 17th Rainbow Classic title and fourth under-11 head coaching title Eran Ganot
- UH won the title last year with wins over Life Pacific, San Jose State and Pacific.
- The ‘Bows haven’t won back-to-back classic titles since winning four in a row between 2001 and 2004.
- UH is 101-69 (.594) all-time in the Classic, including 19-5 (.792) in the tournament under Eran Ganot.
- UH is coming off a 100-74 victory over East Texas A&M on Sunday, a game in which it reached the century mark for the first time in eight years.
- The ‘Bows also set new program records for free throws made (37) and attempted (55) in the win over the Lions.
- Six different players are averaging double figures through the first two games, led by Isaac Johnson (13.0) who also averages 9.5 RPG.
- The ‘Bows have played 11 consecutive home games, including seven games in the month of November.
- Following the Rainbow Classic, UH will host Arizona State on Thursday, November 20 at 7 p.m.
ABOUT THE DOMAIN
- Mississippi Valley State is 1-2 this season and has allowed more than 100 points in each of its losses to UAB and Murray State. The Delta Devils play 12 of their first 14 games on the road.
- Manhattan comes to Honolulu with a 1-1 mark, beating St. Joseph’s (Brooklyn) at home, 125-59, in its home opener, before losing to USC, 114-83, on Sunday. The Jaspers were picked fourth in the MAAC preseason poll after going 17-14 overall and 12-8 in conference play last season.
- Utah Tech played four games in seven days – three of them away – to start the year. The Trailblazers went 2-2 with wins at South Dakota and Bethesda and losses to No. 13 Arizona State.
- Sophomore guard Chance Trujillo was named WAC Newcomer of the Week after averaging 13.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 3.0 apg. Trujillo was a teammate of Rainbow Warrior Isaac Finlinson at Snow College last season.
- Finlinson played his first season at Utah Tech (2022-23) while Gibson Johnson coached there for two seasons (2022-24).
COACHES AGAINST. CANCER BLENDER
- Head coach Eran Ganot hosts the annual meeting Coaches vs. Cancer Mixer Saturday, November 15, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., at the Ed Wong Hospitality Suite at the Stan Sheriff Center.
- The mixer celebrates the OUTRIGGER Rainbow Classic, the nation’s longest-running preseason college basketball tournament, while raising important funds for the fight against cancer. Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with coaches and supporters over pupus and drinks, win exciting prizes and much more.
- The event will benefit the American Cancer Society TC Ching Hope Lodge, a 100% free home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers while they seek life-saving treatment on O‘ahu.
- For reservations or more information, contact Sarah Foy at sarah.foy@cancer.org or (713) 628-8926. Or visit ACSMove.org/HIChampionsofHope
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