Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The University of Hawai`i men's basketball team did its best to slow down Boise State before eventually falling, 80-74, in the 2008 Western Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals Thursday afternoon at the Pan American Center. Hawai'i finished the season 11-19 overall.

Uh gave one of its best defensive efforts in the first half, only to see the Broncos (23-8) storm back in the second half. The Rainbow Warriors ended the year with seven straight losses to cement its first losing season in nine years.

The Broncos entered the contest as the highest scoring team in the WAC (81.0) and second in the nation in field goal percentage (.509). For one half the UH defense shut down one of the most prolific offenses in the nations, but the Broncos turned it around in the second half with red-hot shooting.

Boise State shot 78.9 percent in the second half, converting on 13 of its first 16 field goal attempts after halftime. For the game the Broncos shot 56.8 percent from the field, while UH shot 38.7 percent from the field.

UH's harassing defense forced Boise State into 15 first half turnovers and just 33 percent shooting. After going back-and-forth during the first 10 minutes of the game, the Bows surged ahead. Hawai`i went on a 17-6 run, capped by a Riley Luettgerodt jumper to take a nine-point lead.

The Rainbows took a 35-27 lead into the locker room, limiting Boise State to just six field goals, four of them three pointers. The Broncos stayed in the game by converting 11 free throws in the first half.

Boise State hit seven of its first nine shots in the second half and went on a 18-5 run to claim a 45-40 lead. UH battled back and the final 13 minutes was a see-saw affair.

Offensively the Rainbow Warriors had a balanced attack, with four players scoring in double figures. Matt Gibson and Riley Luettgerodt, each scored a team-high 17 points. Jared Dillinger added 14 points and Bill Amis had 10 points.

Reggie Larry led all scorers with 26 points and added nine rebounds. Tyler Tiedeman added 14 points and Matt Nelson had 10 points.

Boise State swept the season series from UH, winning all three games. UH has not advanced past the quarterfinals since the 2003 WAC Tournament.

 -UH-