Sensley had huge assist on 3-pointer
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
SAN JOSE, Calif. — It was a shot for the win and redemption.
Julian Sensley got both to lead the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team to a 61-60 victory over San Jose State yesterday at The Event Center.
Sensley's 3-pointer from 23 feet away with 2.2 seconds remaining was the game-winning shot, and made up for his unforced turnover on Hawai'i's previous possession.
"I told Big Matt (Gipson) if I get a good look, I'm going to knock the shot down," Sensley said.
San Jose State head coach George Nessman expressed amazement after the game, but the shot personified the new-and-improved Sensley.
"That's something I work on every day, coming off picks and hitting shots," he said. "I was able to get open."
There is no category for a team assist in the boxscore, but Sensley said the 'Bows deserved one on his final shot. Among the other four 'Bows on the court for the play:
"That's a normal set we run," Tatum said. "We've been running it all year. It was just good execution and a big-time shot by Julian."
But ultimately, it was Sensley who made the shot, even on what could be considered an off-game by his standards. He finished with 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting, although he was 3 of 5 from 3-point range.
"He's been an All-WAC player, no question about it because of the way he's played for us down the stretch," said Hawai'i head coach Riley Wallace.
Yesterday was Sensley's 14th consecutive game with double-figure points. He is also 13 of 18 from 3-point range in his last three games.
"I thought we made him earn every one of them," Nessman said of Sensley. "And he earned that (last) one. It wasn't like he got a wide-open look. He had to extend his body up over the top of a defender right on him and fade backwards."
After a 10-game road losing streak, Hawai'i is now 3-1 in its last four road games.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.
