Box Score
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State held the Hawai'i men's basketball team to its lowest scoring output of the season in a 63-52 victory, Monday night, at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. In front of a nationally televised audience on ESPN2, the Rainbow Warriors were held to a season-low 19 first half points and 38.2 shooting for the game.
The 'Bows (10-8) dropped to 4-4 in Western Athletic Conference play at the midway point of the conference season. UH lost for the sixth time on the road this season and saw its WAC road losing skid extend to eight consecutive games.
However the 'Bows would not go down without a fight, rallying from a 17-point halftime deficit and as much as 20 in the second half to within seven midway through the period. UH went on a 15-2 run during a six and a half minute stretch and narrowed the gap to 47-40 at the 9:45 mark.
But the Aggies, who handed coach Stew Morrill his 400th career victory, scored the next eight points with the help of consecutive Jaycee Carroll 3-pointers and pushed their lead back to 15 with just under six minutes to play. The 'Bows would not get any closer than the final margin.
UH forward Julian Sensley scored a team-high 14 points, 12 of which came after halftime. Guard Deonte Tatum added 10 points and five assists. UH struggled from the outside, missing 15 of 19 attempts from 3-point range, including Matt Lojeski's 1-for-6 performance. Lojeski finished with nine points, snapping a string of nine consecutive games scoring in double figures.
Forward Nate Harris led the Aggies with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Carroll finished with 13 points, after scoring just two points in the first half. Chris Huber added 11 points off the bench and was a perfect 3-for-3 from long distance. USU converted nine 3-pointers despite being out-rebounded 35-31.
After a slow start, the Aggies jumped out to a 12-5 lead eight minutes into the game. USU extended its lead to 18-7 after three straight 3-pointers, two by Durrall Peterson and one by Huber. The Aggies continued its hot 3-point shooting taking a 17-point halftime lead.
The 'Bows return to Honolulu to host Idaho, Thursday, Feb. 2 and San Jose State, Feb. 4. Tip-off for both games is 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
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