Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Cruise Past Cal Poly Mustangs

Hawaii's stifling defense and efficient offense prove too much for Cal Poly in Big West matchup

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors continued their dominant home record with an 82-69 victory over the Cal Poly Mustangs in a Big West conference matchup. Hawaii's stifling defense and balanced scoring attack were too much for the visiting Mustangs, who struggled to generate consistent offense throughout the game.

Why it matters

This win keeps Hawaii firmly in the hunt for the Big West regular season title, as they improve to 15-1 at home this season. Cal Poly, meanwhile, falls to 11-15 overall as their struggles continue against the conference's top teams.

The details

Hawaii's defense was the key to the game, allowing just 0.921 points per possession - fifth best in the nation. They limited Cal Poly's three-point shooting, a key part of the Mustangs' offense, and forced 15.7 turnovers per game. On the other end, Hawaii got a strong performance from Isaac Johnson, who scored 13.4 points per game while shooting 51.2% from the field and 86.0% from the free throw line. Point guard Hunter Erickson also contributed 3.8 assists per game to keep the offense flowing.

  • Hawaii and Cal Poly previously met on January 18, 2026, with Hawaii winning 86-66 in San Luis Obispo.

The players

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

The Hawaii men's basketball team, who play in the Big West Conference and are currently 15-1 at home this season.

Cal Poly Mustangs

The Cal Poly men's basketball team, who play in the Big West Conference and have struggled to a 11-15 record so far this season.

Isaac Johnson

A key player for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, averaging 13.4 points per game while shooting 51.2% from the field and 86.0% from the free throw line.

Hunter Erickson

The starting point guard for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, averaging 3.8 assists per game to help run the offense.

Hamad Mousa

The leading scorer for the Cal Poly Mustangs, averaging 20.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play tough defense and take care of the ball if we want to keep winning at home. The crowd really gives us an edge here.”

— Isaac Johnson, Hawaii Forward (draftkings.com)

What’s next

Hawaii will look to continue their home dominance when they host UC Riverside on Saturday, February 22nd. Cal Poly will try to bounce back when they travel to take on UC Irvine on the same date.

The takeaway

Hawaii's stifling defense and balanced scoring attack proved too much for the visiting Cal Poly Mustangs, as the Rainbow Warriors continued their impressive home record this season. This win keeps Hawaii firmly in the hunt for the Big West regular season title, while Cal Poly's struggles against the conference's top teams continue.