Box Score

HONOLULU - Louisiana Tech shut down the Hawai'i men's basketball team in the second half and overcame an 11-point halftime deficit in a 51-48 victory, Saturday, in the Western Athletic Conference regular season finale at the Stan Sheriff Center. With the loss, the Rainbow Warriors (17-10, 10-6 WAC) drop to the No. 4 seed in next week's WAC Tournament in Reno, Nev.

The 'Bows were over-matched physically without the presence of starting forward Ahmet Gueye. The Dakar, Senegal native will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee suffered in practice on Friday. Without Gueye, the team's leading rebounder, LaTech out-rebounded UH, 47-to-37.

For the first time in seven years, UH sent its seniors off with a loss in the home finale. Julian Sensley, Chris Botez, Deonte Tatum, and Matthew Gipson were honored following the game with much of the "White-Out" crowd of 9,354 still in attendance. Sensley led all UH scorers with 16 points and recorded his 14th career double-double with 10 rebounds. No other Rainbow Warrior reached double figures.

The Bulldogs (19-11, 11-5) physically wore down the 'Bows, holding UH to 13 percent shooting in the second half (3-of-23) and only 12 points. Hawai'i was held without a field goal for more than 17 minutes in the second half, in which the Bulldogs out-scored the 'Bows, 21-4. During that stretch, UH missed 16 consecutive attempts from the field.

Tech's Paul Millsap caused much of the trouble for the 'Bows, tallying 20 points and 23 rebounds.

Still the 'Bows had a chance in the end. Botez's tip-in closed the deficit to 48-44 with 43.7 seconds left. After a LaTech turnover, UH guard Matt Lojeski was fouled following a missed Sensley 3-point try. Lojeski, the team's leading free throw shooter, missed one of two to pull UH to within 48-45 with 15.9 seconds remaining.

On Tech's ensuing possession, Corey Dean was fouled after converting a reverse lay-up but missed the free throw try. Sensley came down court and drained a 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds left giving UH little hope. The 'Bows fouled Marcus Elliot, who made the first but missed the second which Sensley rebounded and misfired on his half-court attempt.

The Bulldogs had their own shooting problems in the second half. Tech shot only 29.4 percent and missed all 12 of its 3-point attempts, including 18 total for the game.

UH's troubles in the second half was a stark comparison to the first half. UH took an early 11-4 lead and maintained that advantage until Tech tied it at 17 with just over seven minutes left. With the score tied at 19, UH closed out the half on a 17-6 run to take a 36-25 lead at the break.

The loss ended UH's run at an unbeaten WAC home season. The 'Bows finished 7-1 at home in WAC play and lost for the first time in seven previous "White-Out" games.

The 'Bows will face New Mexico State in the WAC Tournament first round, Thursday, March 9. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PST (4:00 p.m. HST).

-UH-