Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Hawai'i men's basketball team went cold down the stretch in an 87-84 loss to New Mexico State, Saturday night, in a Western Athletic Conference match-up at the Pan American Center. The Rainbow Warriors (8-6, 2-2 WAC) were held scoreless for six minutes late in the second half in dropping their fourth road game of the season.

UH forward Julian Sensley scored a career-high 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting. Sensley's previous high was 28 against UNLV earlier this year. Guard Matt Lojeski was the only other UH player in double figures with 12.

Four Aggies (7-8, 3-1) scored in double figures led by forward Tyrone Nelson's 28 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Elijah Ingram had 21 points and four assists.

In the first ever meeting between the schools in Las Cruces, N.M., the 'Bows did everything it could offensively to win the game. UH posted season-highs in points (84), assists (22), and field goal percentage (55.6). The loss marked just the second time in the last 42 games that Hawai'i lost a game when scoring 80 or more points.

Every time the 'Bows tried to build a lead the Aggies responded. In the second half, the Aggies had runs of 11-0 and 12-0, the latter of which erased an eight-point deficit and gave NMSU a 74-70 lead with 2:53 remaining.

The 'Bows got off to a fast start with five quick points by Sensley and Lojeski to take a 10-4 lead four minutes into the game. Moments later, UH reeled off six straight points, including consecutive dunks by Ahmet Gueye to take a 23-14 lead.

The Aggies responded with a barrage of 3-pointers and used a 12-2 run to take a 34-31 lead with four minutes left. But the 'Bows withstood the surge and Sensley scored seven of the team's final 10 points to take a 41-40 lead at the half, something UH had done only twice in the last 10 games.

UH shot a season-best 63 percent from the field in the first half and were led by Sensley's 16 points.

After the Aggies converted the first bucket of the second half, the 'Bows scored seven unanswered and used a 13-4 run to push their lead to 61-49 with 14:30 left. But NMSU answered back with an 11-0 run during a two and a half minute stretch to close to within one.

UH weathered that storm with consecutive Sensley buckets and eventually extended the lead to eight at 70-62. However that would be UH's final points during a 6:12 stretch which the Aggies scored 12 straight and took a 74-70 lead.

The 'Bows cut the deficit to 74-72 following a Chris Botez bucket but the Aggies converted 13 of 16 free throws from that point to secure the victory.

Hawai'i returns home to host Fresno State, Jan. 21, and Boise State, Jan. 23. Tip-off for both games is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

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