Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i men's basketball team gave its home fans a memorable show with a 94-71 rout of New Mexico State Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. With the win the Rainbow Warriors (9-11, 5-3 WAC) remained in the thick of the Western Athletic Conference race, moving to within one game of first place at the midway point of the league schedule.

New Mexico State (11-12, 5-3), the preseason WAC favorite according to the media, entered the game coming off a 30-point blowout win over first-place Utah State, but left with its worst conference loss of the year. The `Bows played their most inspired game of the season, blitzing the Aggies with tenacious defense, adept ball-handling and dead-eye shooting.

UH's 94 points was its most of the season and its highest total in almost five years. UH set season-bests for three-pointers made (11) and assists (25), while tying its season-high with 24 turnovers forced.

Fiery team captain Matt Gibson set the tone for UH. Gibson posted his second career double-double with 20 points and a career-high 11 assists. The senior point guard also tallied three of the team's 11 steals as UH's frantic defense proved key in the victory.

Fellow senior Jared Dillinger also provided high-energy results for UH. Dillinger set a new career-high with 19 points, draining nearly half (5) of UH's three-pointers. He also chipped in three steals.

An ability to break the Aggie press as well as an opportunistic defense helped UH break the game open in the first half. UH recorded seven steals, including three by Gibson, and forced 14 first-half turnovers. Combined with some hot long range shooting - six three-pointers drained - UH built its lead to as many as 18 points, before taking a 43-29 lead into the locker room.

UH maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way. New Mexico State looked to make a run, cutting the UH led to 10 points midway through the second half. But UH responded with eight straight points and a breakaway layup by Gibson with less than seven minutes left put the crowd in a frenzy as UH stretched its lead to 70-49.

Riley Luettgerodt added 17 points and four assists for UH, while Bobby Nash poured in 16. Hatila Passos led New Mexico State with a game-high 25 points and nine rebounds.

Hawai`i next faces Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Feb. 2. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

 

 

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