Hawaii vs UC Riverside Picks and Prediction – 1/10/2025

On Thursday, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (9-5) face off against the UC Riverside Highlanders (10-6) at SRC Arena in Riverside, California. Get ready for the college basketball season with our college basketball picks.

UC Riverside comes into this matchup on a one-game losing streak, but has won three of their last five games. In a challenging game against UC Irvine, which ended in an 81-57 defeat, Barrington Hargress was a standout performer for the UC Riverside Highlanders, contributing 20 points. This season, Hargress has been the team’s most prolific scorer, holding an impressive average of 19.4 points per game. Kaleb Smith is not far behind, being the second-highest scorer with an average of 11.4 points per game. When it comes to rebounding, the team relies on Joel Armotrading, who leads with an average of 6.5 rebounds each game. Additionally, Hargress is a key playmaker, leading the team with an average of 4 assists per game. Over their last five matchups, the Highlanders have maintained an average score of 70 points and are currently tied for second place in the Big West Conference standings. Eager to bounce back, UC Riverside aims for a victory against Hawaii in their upcoming home game. Across the season, the Highlanders have been scoring an average of 71.5 points per game.

Hawaii enters this game on a one-game winning streak and has won three of their last five games. In their recent 68-55 victory over Cal Poly, Gytis Nemeiksa played a pivotal role for the Rainbow Warriors by scoring 19 points. This performance is consistent with his strong season, where he is leading Hawaii in scoring, averaging 14.9 points per game. Following him, Tanner Christensen is Hawaii's second-highest point scorer, contributing an average of 10.7 points per game. Not only does Christensen excel in scoring, but he also dominates the boards, leading the team with an average of 7.6 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Marcus Greene stands out as the primary playmaker for the Rainbow Warriors, dishing out an average of 2.1 assists each game. Despite these individual performances, Hawaii has faced challenges recently, averaging 67 points across their last five matchups and currently sitting second-to-last in the Big West Conference standings. The team is eager to build momentum by securing back-to-back wins and claiming their second conference victory of the season. On the whole, the Rainbow Warriors have been averaging 71.9 points per game throughout their campaign.

UC Riverside has enjoyed an impressive undefeated streak at home, successfully winning all six of their games played on their own court this season. They aim to continue this winning momentum by securing their seventh consecutive home victory as they prepare to face Hawaii. On the other hand, Hawaii has struggled in their performances away from home, having lost both of their initial road games. They are determined to turn things around and achieve their first road victory of the season during this upcoming matchup. Look for the road team to do just that. Final Score Prediction, Hawaii Rainbow Warriors win 71-70.