Gameday: Texas State

The direction of Hawaii’s 2016-17 season could come into sharper focus today against Texas State.

All three teams brought in for the Outrigger Rainbow Classic were widely considered eminently beatable. But after stumbling 69-68 to SIU-Edwardsville in Friday’s opener, it looks like UH will be in for a battle every night.

UH hasn’t been 0-2 since the 2008-09 season, when it went 13-17.

It’s a “White-out” game today in the first meeting between TXST (the Bobcats’ preferred acronym that’s not really an acronym) and UH.

The Rainbow Warriors need to commit fewer turnovers than the 19 they coughed up Friday, and convert some of the chippies that eluded them.

Keep your eye out for some lineup tweaks — but Matt Owies is expected to be the first man off the bench again.

Freshman forward Zigmars Raimo is eligible to play today coming off his team suspension (for unspecified reasons) in the opener. The only inactive players are Drew Buggs and Mike Thomas.

Texas State counted on Hawaii-born Kavin Gilder-Tilbury (19 points) in its opening win against Florida Atlantic, while Nijal Pearson added 18.

Meanwhile, Edwardsville improved to 2-0 by beating Florida Atlantic 77-68. The Owls (0-2) are UH’s opponent for Monday night’s 11 p.m. ESPN Tip-off Marathon game.

Former UH coach Riley Wallace, who was at the UH football blowout loss to Boise State yesterday, is in house for this one.