The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and the Cal State Fullerton Titans are set to face off in a college basketball game. Dan Johnson provides a preview, prediction, and pick for the game.
Titans’ Recent Form
Cal State Fullerton arrives at 18-15 and 12-8 after an 82-70 quarterfinal win over UC Davis. Fullerton scored 85 in a near-miss at Hawaii, then won 90-77 at CSUN after taking a 39-36 halftime lead. They also handled UC Davis 82-70 after building a 38-26 edge by the break and racking up 25 points in the final seven minutes of the first half.
Rainbow Warriors’ Shaky Early Rhythm
Hawaii enters the game at 22-8 overall and 14-6 in the Big West. Hawaii swept the regular-season series, but the Rainbow Warriors escaped 87-85 after trailing 35-32 at halftime in the second meeting. Hawaii’s current version is still dangerous, but the early rhythm has been shakier than the season-long profile suggests.
The Rainbow Warriors trailed 35-32 at Fullerton, then came home for Senior Night and fell behind Long Beach State 44-34 at halftime before losing 84-75. There is enough recent evidence to treat the opening script as live.
Key Players to Watch
Joshua Ward has looked like the guard most capable of grabbing the first half. He leads Fullerton at 14.8 points and 3.4 assists per game, had 16 against Hawaii in the last meeting, then followed with 23 from Christian Williams and 20 from KJ Garris at CSUN, and a 24-point, 10-rebound quarterfinal against UC Davis. Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro added a double-double on Thursday and gives the Titans another foul-line stabilizer at 89.0% for the season.
Hawaii still has the more trustworthy 40-minute stars in Dre Bullock, Isaac Johnson, and Hunter Erickson. Bullock dropped 27 and Johnson 22 in the last Fullerton game. But this specific angle is about who looks sharper out of the gates, and right now Fullerton’s backcourt is bringing more recent ignition.
Team Profiles
Fullerton’s season-long profile is built on volume and volatility: 83.6 points per game, 305 made threes, and 576 made free throws. Hawaii’s broader profile is the more complete one: 80.0 points scored, 70.1 allowed, opponents held to 41.4% from the field and 30.0% from three, plus 761 free-throw attempts and a strong rebounding edge.
The No. 2 seed Hawaii walks into Friday night rested and waiting after the double-bye, while No. 3 seed Cal State Fullerton arrives after grinding through their quarterfinal win.