Box Score
RENO, Nev. - The University of Hawai'i men's basketball team got the short end of a questionable officials' ruling in the final seconds of a 69-68 loss to No. 15 Nevada, Saturday night, in a nationally televised game on ESPN2 at a sold-out Lawlor Events Center. The Rainbow Warriors (13-10, 4-6 WAC) dropped their 10th consecutive game to the Western Athletic Conference leaders in Reno.
Trailing 69-68 in the final seconds, Ahmet Gueye converted a desperation jump shot while being fouled by Nevada's Nick Fazekas with 5.8 seconds left. The officials conferred and ruled that the shot was good. Following a Wolf Pack timeout, the officials changed their minds and called the foul before the shot although replays showed the shot should have counted.
Nevada had two fouls to give, forcing the 'Bows to inbound the ball from under their basket. In another officiating blunder, the officials should have put back more than a second on the clock since the foul occurred before the basket. That oversight would later cost UH.
On the inbounds, Matt Gibson's three-pointer was partially blocked by Denis Ikovlev. Gueye grabbed the miss and his shot hit the backboard which went straight to P.J. Owsley, but his putback occurred just a split second too late. The officials reviewed the video and confirmed the basket did not count.
Gueye tied his career-high with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting and posted his 10th career double-double with 10 rebounds. Matt Lojeski had 13 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Gibson finished with 11 points and seven assists while Owsley had 10 points.
As a team, the 'Bows executed their offense to near-perfection, assisting on 26 of their 30 baskets. In addition, UH committed a season-low nine turnovers and held the Wolf Pack to 40.7 percent shooting.
Fazekas (21) and guard Marcelus Kemp (23) combined to score 44 points for Nevada (21-2, 9-1).
The 'Bows trailed 40-33 at the half but closed to within 46-41 to start the second period. But Kemp took over scoring the Pack's first 14 points to extend their lead to 10. Hawai'i wouldn't give in, as Lojeski and Gibson drained consecutive three-pointers to pull the 'Bows within three at 56-53. UH tied it at 59 following Gibson's baby jumper in the lane.
The Pack led 65-61 until Bobby Nash drained his second three with 2:25 left. Following two free throws by Sessions, Gueye's lay-up 49.3 seconds left pulled UH to 69-68. The 'Bows got the ball back after Lojeski's steal, setting up the wild finish.
Hawai'i returns to Honolulu to host Louisiana Tech, Saturday, February 10 and New Mexico State, Monday, February 12. Tip-off for both games is 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
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