Box Score

DALLAS - The Hawai'i men's basketball team once again came up short in a 71-65 loss to SMU, in a Western Athletic Conference match-up, Saturday night, at Moody Coliseum. The six-point loss was the Rainbow Warriors' (13-7, 5-7 WAC) largest margin of defeat this season.

The tale of the story was rebounding, where the 'Bows were out-boarded, 43-23. UH's 23 rebounds was its lowest total of the season. SMU controlled the boards and maintained a steady lead until UH closed to within 54-49 with 5:03 remaining. Hawai'i would get no closer than that the rest of the way.

Senior Jake Sottos led UH with 17 points, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range. Junior Julian Sensley added 14 points, including 12 in the second half. Sophomores Bobby Nash and Matt Gibson each added 10 points a piece.

For the Mustangs (11-10, 6-7), junior guard Bryan Hopkins scored a game-high 27 points, 13 of which came at the free throw line. Hopkins didn't play in the team's earlier meeting in Honolulu, a 71-59 Hawai'i victory. Forward Patrick Simpson added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

On a positive note for the 'Bows, 20 of the team's 23 baskets came off assists. UH also drained 10 3-pointers, on 27 attempts, and committed just seven turnovers.

SMU used a 9-0 scoring run to take an early 17-11 lead midway through the first half. But the 'Bows found their shooting touch after missing five of their first six 3-pointers with consecutive treys by Nash and Sottos. During a stretch late in the first half, Nash scored seven of team's next nine points to pull the 'Bows to within one. Moments later, a Matt Gibson trey put UH on top 27-23 with just over four minutes to play.

But the 'Bows went cold the rest of the way as the Mustangs out-scored UH, 9-0 to end the half. Hawai'i missed its final five shots of the half and committed two turnovers on its final seven possessions to trail 32-27 at the break. UH shot just 36 percent in the period while the Mustangs converted 50 percent from the field.

SMU built its lead to double digits (49-39) at the halfway point of the second half. UH trimmed the deficit to five at the five minute mark, but the Mustangs answered back and Hopkins' NBA-range 3-pointer as the shot clock expired with 3:45 left put SMU back on top by double digits. On SMU's next possession, Simpson's bucket gave the Mustang's their largest lead of 12.

The game was UH's final appearance in Moody Coliseum playing SMU as WAC members. The Mustangs join Conference USA next season along with Rice, Tulsa, and UTEP.

The 'Bows return home for a three-game homestand beginning with Boise State, Wednesday, February 16. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

-uh-