Box Score

RENO, Nev. - Hawai`i and New Mexico State went down to the wire with the Aggies espcaping with a 58-57 victory in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament Thursday night at Lawlor Events Center. UH had an opportunity to win on the game's final possession, but Julian Sensley's jumper went long and Matthew Gipson's banking putback at the buzzer also fell off the mark.

For the second straight game UH (17-11) played without starting forward Ahmet Gueye, who tore ligaments in his right knee prior to the team's regular season finale. The Rainbow Warriors responded with a huge effort but it wasn't enough as the Aggies (16-13) advanced to the tournament semifinals where they will meet top seed and host Nevada.

The loss marked the second time in three years that the 'Bows lost on the final play in a WAC Tournament quarterfinal game. In 2004, Phil Martin missed a putback at the buzzer which would have sent that game into overtime against Rice.

Sensley led four 'Bows in double-figures with 16 points and added a team-high four assists. Chris Botez scored 13 points, Deonte Tatum finished with 12 before fouling out and Matt Lojeski added 10.

Sophomore forward Tyrone Nelson led New Mexico State 16 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Elijah Ingram, who returned to the Aggie line-up, after missing the season finale against Hawai`i with a hamstring injury, tallied 13 points and dished out a team-high five assists.

Hawai`i trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half, but outscored the Aggies, 11-4 to cut the deficit to 30-26 at the break. UH then went on a 13-2 tear in the first five minutes of the second half to take its largest lead of the game, 39-32.

UH would lead for the majority of the second half, before the Aggies regained the lead, 58-56, following Shaun Davis' three-point play with 2:07 left. Botez's free throw pulled UH to 58-57 with less than a minute. After Nelson's hook shot rattled out of the rim, the 'Bows had one last chance with 15.4 seconds left, but both Sensley and Gipson were unable to convert.

The difference in the game was the rebounding factor. The Aggies out-rebounded the 'Bows, 35-to-19, including a 21-to-11 edge in the first half. Both teams also shot poorly from the free throw line, as the Aggies converted 7-of-17 compared to UH's 7-of-16. Hawai'i will now await word on whether it will receive one of 40 spots into the National Invitation Tournament.

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