Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawaii men's basketball team dropped its fourth straight game with a 79-69 loss to New Mexico Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH dropped to 3-8 on the season as another second-half rally fell short.

New Mexico improved to 12-2 with its fifth straight win. The Lobos defeated UH earlier this year in Albuquerque by 29 points, though this win did not come as easy. Hawaii trailed by double-digits at the break and moved within three late in the game before being turned back.

The difference might well have been in the key. Two days after losing starting center Stephen Verwers for the season, the `Bows were out-scored 46-16 in the paint with 6-9 junior Daniel Faris pouring in a career-high 21 points. The Lobos shot 55 percent for the game.

Matt Gibson led UH with a season-high 19 points. Bobby Nash scored all 18 of his points from three-point range, while also adding a team-high five assists. Riley Luettgerodt chipped in 11 for the 'Bows.

UH got off to quick start seizing a seven-point lead, 11-4, less than five minutes into the game. The Lobos responded however with a 15-4 run, capped by a Chad Toppert three-pointer to take the lead. The Lobos extended the margin to as many as 12 points, before taking a 38-28 cushion into the locker room.

UH stayed within striking distance and rallied late with Nash's sharp-shooting. The senior drained a career-high six three-pointers, including four in a five-minute stretch late in the game to rally the 'Bows. The senior's final three-pointer of the game cut the UH deficit to just three, 70-67, with 1:41 remaining.

New Mexico, however, closed the door by out-scoring UH, 9-2, the rest of the way.

All four of UH's losses during the current stretch have come at home, the longest home losing streak for the team in nine years.

UH closes out its six-game homestand when it host Centenary on Sunday, Dec. 30. Tipoff is at 5:05 p.m.

 

 

 

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