Box Score

HONOLULU - The Hawai'i men's basketball team dropped another heartbreaker to UTEP, 71-67, Monday night, at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Warriors dropped its second consecutive home game for the first time since the 2000-01 season, a span of 70 home games.

Earlier this season, the Miners pulled out a 71-70 victory in El Paso after Omar Thomas drained two free throws with 5 seconds left. This time, the Miners converted four free throws with 18 seconds left to secure the victory.

Three UH (14-9, 6-8 WAC) players scored in double figures led by senior guard Jake Sottos' 15. Senior forward Jeff Blackett added 12 points and five assists while junior forward Julian Sensley added 11 points and five rebounds off the bench. Sensley did not start for the first time in his career, snapping a string of 55 consecutive starts.

UTEP (21-7, 11-4) was led by forward Thomas' 27 points and six rebounds. His driving bucket in the lane with 38 seconds left put the Miners up by three. Guard Filiberto Rivera tallied 15 points and six assists.

The Miners jumped out to a 13-6 lead after the 'Bows missed eight of its first 11 shots. UH tied the game at 15 with a 9-2 run. UTEP answered back just as quickly, with nine straight over the next minute and a half to stretch the lead to 24-15. Sensley entered the game at that point and the 'Bows immediately fed off of his energy.

Sensley's rebound and follow-up bucket pulled UH to within 31-30 after a 10-2 run with just over two minutes left. UH, who handled the ball near-flawlessly by not committing a single turnover, entered the half trailing 33-32.

UH made five of its first six shots in the second half to take its first lead at 40-38 with 17:54 left. Moments later, consecutive buckets by Thomas put the Miners back on top. The 'Bows then went cold, going scoreless for nearly five minutes as UTEP scored nine unanswered to take a six points lead with 5:27 to play.

UH closed to within 60-59 after a pair of Sensley free throws and tied it after Sottos's second trey. The Miners regained the lead and went ahead 65-62 after a Rivera reverse lay-up with 3:18 remaining. On their next possession, the 'Bows cut it to one after a Peciukas lay-up but Thomas' runner with under a minute left put UTEP back ahead by three.

UH guard Deonte Tatum threw the ball away - just the team's fourth turnover all game - on UH's next possession. Thomas converted two free throws with 18 seconds left for a five-point Miner lead but Sottos came right back down the court and his lay-up and ensuing free throw pulled UH to 69-67. St. Amant made two free throws with 12.6 seconds left clinched the victory.

The game marked the final meeting in Honolulu between the long-time WAC members as the Miners will leave for Conference USA next season. The teams have met 51 times, the third most by a UH opponent, with the Miners winning 34 times.

UH last lost consecutive home games after losing to Tennessee in the Rainbow Classic championship game and the team's home WAC opener to UTEP.

The 'Bows will make their final road trip as WAC members to Tulsa, Feb. 25 and Rice, Feb. 27. Both the Golden Hurricane and Owls are leaving the WAC for Conference USA next season.

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